0-segment[L-the-L]

Where is the belfry?

In that moment, gentle days end.

I always awaken very abruptly. I don't even think I dream. I suddenly find myself walking to school. My headache worsens day by day, until it finally buzzes in my head like an alarm. That day. In potent numbness, I wake up twice as fast as normal.

I walk to the schoolyard. It's clear and cloudless, 7:30 A.M. But ... what season is it...? When I try to recall what season it is, I start to get so dizzy I almost pass out. I may wind up back in bed if I let go and faint—

For some time, I have been embracing a rush of useless information. The normal stuff you'd see at a school, like the hustle and bustle of my classmates by the entrance.

It hasn't changed.

It hasn't changed.

—When I push the thought, my field of vision fizzles. Today/Again today, there's a crowd of students milling in front of the school gate, and more are being directed that way. As to what's going on—There's a boy in a black uniform in front of the school gate.

He's my friend/as I recall.

He's David Turley/as I recall.

I remember this from the first time. When David notices me looking at him, he pushes through the crowd. "Good morning! Lovely weather we're having, don't you think? Hmm? Why do you look so surprised? We announced at last week's assembly that this month the student council would strictly enforce school rules." He runs through his spiel, as if this was the first time he'd ever disclosed the information.

I already know this. I know it. I already know what happens. It's happened more than once. I'm seized by a headache. I'm so dizzy I feel like I'm being forcibly logged out of my consciousness.

"First, let me check your student ID. I shouldn't need to remind you, but it should be on you at all times." My log-in ID is being checked. It's so obvious now. I answer clearly to the question that usually makes me go dizzy. Female, given name: Miku, surname: Hatsune, nickname: DIVA. I can hear him mumbling to himself as he looks at my identification card. "Great. There's no telling when an emergency might occur, and it will be a help if you have your ID."

I feel nauseous, and I know it has nothing to do with what I ate for breakfast this morning. I feel nauseous because of the world around me. It's repeating itself over and over, and that's making me sick—"Now for the uniform inspection... Collar, check! Pant hems, check! And your socks ... check!" I want him to get out of my way. I want this repetition to stop. I push him aside and go forward. I'm not nice about it, either. "Next is the contents of your bag... Notebooks, textbooks, pencil box! Not even a whiff of contraband. Your nails are evenly cut, and your haircut is sensible. Indeed, quite remarkable. You're a model Monica Academy student." He keeps on talking loudly, even though he's facing no one.

I have a headache. I'm shivering. I know one thing for sure. This is wrong. This is not the school I know! It can't be! I have to go. I have to hurry and wake up. Or else it will be too late. But, who am I—awakening for—

It's evening, and my anxiety and headaches are only getting worse. Afternoon arrives while I desperately try to find a way to escape this bizarre situation. As is now the norm, my vision is overlaid with some kind of unnatural distortion. Uneasiness. Futility. Emptiness. I want someone to explain to me the true nature behind all of these feelings. There must be a key somewhere. Something that will have the answers to all of my questions.

There is a girl in the direction behind me. It seems like she wants to express her thoughts. "Man, where is everyone? It's like a ghost town around here. Things are getting weird..."

Another person in the classroom speaks to himself, "That Andy guy... Where in the heck did he go? I never thought he'd be the type to ditch class." I don't think I can my answers here, I should go. Before I depart from the class, I take one last look around the place. Almost as if a part of me is expressing a form of farewell to it.

I see the desk assigned to Andy. Its contents reflect Andy's incredible wealth and aristocratic upbringing. I glance at the spot where Shinji sits. Shinji's desk is disturbingly organized, a reflection of his obsessive-compulsive personality. And finally, my assigned seat. Inside the desk is a bunch of textbooks, random junk, and a Mr. Tiddles plushie.

The moment I step foot on the first floor, my feelings of unease intensify. There is a student wearing a red uniform... Andy, the new transfer student. The instant I lay eyes on him, I immediately feel intimidated and humiliated. There is also someone trailing behind him. It looks like ... one of my classmates... The more I think, the more I realize that Andy isn't the only anomaly I've come across while on campus. There are other things that seem ... off ... as well. It's becoming clearer now. There are people who shouldn't exist. Students that mysteriously vanish. The fabric of reality is becoming unraveled.

Don't turn away now.

What is the "truth"?

Don't turn away now.

What defines the world you know?

Don't turn away now.

There is a reason why you're here. Come. Do not allow yourself to close your eyes to the truth.

I follow after them. Andy and one of the guys from my class are talking in the hallway up ahead. "The attention to detail is quite impressive. Even the surrounding air is surprisingly substantial. If that is the case, this world is in some ways more real than the real world it represents." He pauses for a moment.

"How about you guys? What are your thoughts on this?" You guys? For a moment, it feels as if he is including me in his comment. However, Andy begins speaking to my classmate, seemingly oblivious to my presence. "Greetings. I believe this is the first time we've had an actual conversation." Andy gives me a smile with no hostility. However, I have the suspicion that there is something malicious behind his smile.

"Attending school wasn't half-bad. I've never had the opportunity to go to one before now. In that respect, this has been quite an interesting experience... However, the time for fun has come to an end. I did not come here to play at being a student. No matter how enjoyable the detour, eventually one must return to their appointed path. And for me, the time to do so has arrived..." With those final words, Andy turns his back on me.

"Farewell. No, that's not quite right. I don't think farewell would be accurate in this situation. For reasons I cannot explain, I have the distinct feeling that we will see each other again. So I guess I should use the more congenial, 'See you later.' Well, it's time for me to move on. I wish you the best of luck." Andy said as much, even going so far as to look in my direction... For some inexplicable reason, I'm not surprised that Andy knew I was spying on him. I am trying to get things straightened out in my mind when Andy suddenly ... disappears.

The student who is following him also disappears after touching the same spot on the wall. At the same moment he vanishes, my vision distorts and the shock threatens to overwhelm me. What is going on here...? I wonder if this place is the source of my unease...

Like him, I place my hand on the wall, expecting to be drawn in. I see now that the way to the truth, to why I have these feelings, begins right here...

I want to know.

The atmosphere changes. There's a doorway, an entrance, where the concrete wall used to be. It's not something of this world. There's no doubt this door leads to someplace unfathomable. I bid farewell to the false world, and take my first step toward the truth.

An entrance to another world—

Beyond this door, the previous statement perfectly describes the view before me. Walking behind me is my strange silent attendant. It is to be my sword and shield for what lies ahead... A disembodied voice suddenly confirms my thoughts. Although I have yet to learn anything, I need to do something besides stand here. At the very least, there might be some clues to this bizarre experience up ahead.

—I have no choice but to head into the darkness with only this strange doll as protection.

I find myself standing on a rather peculiar path. Rectangles with outlines of neon blue lights shine through the supposedly empty darkness; making me to assume that they represent the ground that I am standing on. With each step I take, splashes of lit squares surround my feet, and then disappear back into the darkness once more.

The world around me flashes and all the darkness that is left is ahead of me now. Around me looks like ... the innards of a wormhole of sorts. Squares and boxes of light pass by and through me. Random blue cubes start to rise from the bottom of this cylindrical place to its top.

The world around me flashes once more and the everything is replaced with a hallway of rectangular neon lights, slightly different from the first path. This time, the rectangles have extended themselves to create walls of shining blue.

No longer a typical school campus, the floors and walls, the air, even the aura are slightly off. It wouldn't surprise me to see a monster pop out from the shadows. It's very much like a dungeon here.

"Welcome, potential Summoner, to the Mystic Maze." With a shocking suddenness, a voice begins speaking. It sounds like it's coming from the empty sky above. "If you are looking for answers, you must reach the goal. Now, please step forward." Seeing as there is no other way to go than forward, I walk ahead of myself.

Down the hallway, I see a strange looking cube, held up by strings of ... electricity, I believe. "The illuminated cube in front of you is called an Item Folder. Inside of it is a farewell present of sorts for those about to face the coming trial. Touch it and open it." I do so and the box opens up in a rather interesting fashion; the cube splits itself apart, but its pieces are floating in the air with coordination. Almost as if it would close perfectly back into its original form if prompted. True to the voices word, an item is spat out towards me. I have obtained an ... Ether Shard. Hmm, I'm not very sure what it does.

I turn my head to the left and see a floating mechanical orb. It looks almost like an eye... An eye with a purple iris. "Before you is an Enemy Program. It is programmed to attack on sight. Touching it will initiate a battle. But you won't actually fight as you are too fragile. The effigy given to you will fight in your stead. If your effigy is ever destroyed in battle, you will no longer be shielded from harm. To put it bluntly, you will die. So be very careful in battle. But there's no need to be afraid ... for now. Just do what I say and you'll be perfectly safe for the time being.

"First off, why don't I explain a little bit about battles? First of all, there are three basic commands that you can issue in battle: Q, W, and E. Each turn in battle is composed of multiple actions, and you'll need to tell your effigy what your strategy is to be."

Tutorial -Command Input 01-

Battles are divided into actions, with multiple commands being issued each turn. Once confirmed, they'll be executed all at once. However, there will be times when using an action an affective number of times can create a cooldown timer for that specific action, leaving it unavailable to use until the timer runs out.

"The enemy before you should be quite easy to defeat as it will only perform one command which is 'W'. 'W', which is usually focused solely on power, shouldn't be much of a problem against 'Q'. Now use the 'Q' command to destroy the program."

Tutorial -Command Input 02-

Use the QWE buttons to choose a command and then left click Χ to confirm your selection. Enter the Q commands using the Q button and then left click Χ to annihilate the enemy!

Fine, I will. My effigy enters into the battle and faces off against the enemy. Understanding that the enemy has only one action, I use my Q commands to tell my protector exactly how to deal with the adversary. After every three strikes, my effigy manages to sneak another attack onto the enemy, destroying the program after two combos.

"So ... how did it go? One thing to know is that in each fight, you'll have to plan a series of moves that will defeat your foe... The goal is still far ahead. If you must bask in the afterglow of your victory, do so while moving forward."

Tutorial -Q-

You can overcome some moves by using the Q command!

I move up the hallway, as it starts to slant upwards, the textures of the rectangles turn purple. How interesting for this to be color coded. Speaking of color, I see another circular enemy at the top of the stairs; this time the orb is filled with green.

"Oh look, here comes another program. You seem nervous. Perhaps you're anxious about fighting in another battle? Do not be alarmed, that enemy isn't strong enough to harm you. It is programmed to only use 'Q'. While 'Q' is a potent action, using 'E' will allow you to defend and then counterattack. 'E' can be used to reduce the damage caused by an enemy attack, but I trust you know this."

Tutorial -E-

Some E commands will not only block an opponent's Q command, but will also unleash a devastating counter-attack!

"...Now that you know how this battle will unfold, use the appropriate command to defeat the enemy program." All right, then. The doll by my side steps up once more and the battle begins. Knowing that I should play defensively against this opponent, I wait for my enemy to attack before countering with the E command; I see that my effigy performs the same extra attack after every combo. The enemy program is destroyed by the time the sixth attack lands. "Yes, that's exactly right. As you may have already noticed, performing three successful actions in a row result in activating a 'PASSIVE'. By performing multiple PASSIVE attacks, you can perform a devastating action that activates the PASSIVE on your opponent."

Tutorial -Passive-

Depending on the passive, if you land a successful number of strikes in a row, you will perform an action that will usually be an special additional attack.

"While activating multiple PASSIVE actions in the heat of battle may be difficult, the results make it worth the effort. Now, please proceed." I run through the hallway again and in no time, I see another floating orb. This time it's color code is yellow. "You should be used to the fundamentals of battle at this point, but I'll walk you through this one last time. This program will only use 'E' and do nothing in battle but defend against harm. But no matter how stout one's defense may be, it will be for naught against the 'W' command."

Tutorial -W-

You can shatter the enemy's E command by using W!

"Remember, always use the appropriate command for any given situation." My effigy engages the program. I have the knowledge that the enemy will only defend itself, so my W command will apparently break through defenses. I take this in stride and execute the W command constantly. The doll shatters the program, winning me yet another battle. "...You have been through three battle and have used the Q, W, and E commands. Someone as intuitive and observant as you must have already noticed this, each of the three attacks balances each other out, creating a situation where no attack is dominant.

Tutorial -Three-Way Standoff-

The three battle commands, Q, W, and E, all have immutable relationships with one another. However, some enemies have the ability to override this and can use this to their advantage.

"What I just covered is the absolute basics of battle and the minimum info you'll need to know. Once you master the basics, all that's left is to test yourself in battle and gain valuable experience. Now, please proceed." I walk through the hallways again and find a flight of violet stairs going downwards.

...I see another orb here, however this one is colored in a dark shade of red. "All of the enemy programs you've faced so far only used one move, which won't happen in a real fight. Like you, your enemies will choose their actions based on the situation and general observation. Their actions will be very difficult for you to predict at first. As you face the same enemy multiple times, you will be able to read their tendencies, abilities, passives, and patterns accurately.

Tutorial -Predicting Actions 01-

When you first enter a battle, your opponents moves will be mostly hidden from you. Being able to guess your opponent's abilities with only a limited amount of info and time is the key to victory!

"...Although considering your lack of fighting experience, I may be expecting far too much from you. But anyway, please try your best." Will do. This will be a true test of my skill at this point. Just by looking at the program, I notice a few things about its abilities; this wave of information is somehow entering my brain. Its a type of program that focuses on destroying defenses while holding its own. So then I should use my Q and W commands! My effigy executes its commands without interruption nor trouble, and the enemy program is destroyed. "...Good job. All right then, please proceed to the final room."

Huh? We have already arrived at the end of the story? I haven't had my questions answered yet. However, I can only move forward here. So, yes. I will proceed. The hallway leads me to a rather large looking sphere, it's not a program, that would seem to have bits and chunks of ... data, perhaps ... constantly moving around it. I enter.

—I made it. At the end of a very long road, after going through a door that suddenly appeared in the wall... Three large door-like stained-glass windows appear to float within the distance. The oppressive air of this place where the spirits of the dead still linger. Here's my goal. That's what I thought.

Further in, it appears as if someone had collapsed. When I look into his face—It's the student who was following Andy just now! I call out to him, but get no reply. I shake him in an attempt to wake him up when I notice—He is stone cold. I go as pale as the corpse before me and I can no longer think coherently. All I can do is stare in bewilderment. It is at this moment—The fallen effigy lying next to the male student comes to its feet with a clatter. After having to fight several enemy programs to get here, it's obvious that this thing is an enemy as well. Without warning, it suddenly twists around and comes right at me.

My effigy comes to my aid ... however, I can not get any information by looking at it. I can't see anything about this enemy. I'll tell my effigy to use Q, W, and E so then I can't be countered so easily. My ally was able to land a few hits, but the clear winner of this fight was the enemy effigy. As my doll is overwhelmed by the damage and falls, the effigy attacks me as well. I go down after one clean hit.

"...Hmph, you seem to be lacking as well." ...I can hear the sound of a distant voice. "The time has come. With your inevitable loss, I will consider this round of preliminaries to be over. Farewell. I pray you'll find peace in your annihilation." That is the voice's final words to me. I don't have the power to protest. All I can do is stare at the floor... I think I'm going to die here.

Suddenly, at the edge of my now hazy vision, a number of brown colored lumps seems to rise from the ground. Actually, it might be that I just noticed them now. They may have been there from the beginning for all I know. Those lumps are the bodies of an untold number of fallen Monica Academy students.

The guy before me wasn't the only one to fall. All of the others made it here and died, unable to do anything... And in a very short while, I suppose I'll become one of them.

—Maybe I should just close my eyes now. I did all that I could, so maybe it'd be better for it to end now.

I refuse to give up.

I refuse to give up... I summon all of my strength in a n attempt to get back on my feet. However, as I try to move, an unbearably intense pain shoots through my entire body. If that's how it's going to be... No, if this is...

I still refuse to give up.

I don't want it to end like this. I cannot ignore the intense pain coursing through my body. I've reached a point where I no longer see stars as my eyes feel like they're on fire. I feel like all five of my senses are being ripped from my body.

I'm afraid. I'm afraid of the pain. I'm afraid of losing my senses. I'm afraid of becoming a corpse... And the most terrifying thing: Disappearing without a trace for any reason at all. It's not right that I disappear here. My consciousness, shot through with waves of distortion, screams out against the injustice of it all. What was the purpose of suffering through those headaches just to fade away here and now? What were they all for if I just fade away here and now?

I have to stand up. It's OK if I'm scared. It's OK if I'm in pain. I have to rise above all of that. Because I have yet to fight of my own volition and on my own terms!

"Hey, you soul-type person over there, wait juuuuuuust a second! Really, just one second! I have absolutely no idea of who you are or where you're from, but your lamentation, your perseverance—While other champions choose to ignore you, your cries have reached my ears! And with the gods as my witness, I say it's too early for this one to go on to the realm of the dead. I mean, I'm sure this absolutely charming soul is a wonderful person! Please, can I have it?"

The sound of breaking glass is accompanied by a light cutting through the gloom. I manage to move my weary body and aching head to see what's happening. I didn't notice it before, but something was slowly rising up from the floor in the middle of the room. That form—

Its appearance isn't much different from that of a human being, but something was different. Clearly so. The power emanating from it transcended that of any human, or of any enemy I've faced in getting here. An awesome power that seems as if it'd vaporize anyone it touched swirls within my body almost against my will.

She has ... fox ears ... and a lot of tails, too... Nine? I kind of want to pet her now... Wait, ow. Nevermind.

"Even if you weren't exactly clear why you need one, I've brought you a vulpine wife from the imperial tomb!" She makes a little pose that reminds me of action cartoons. "Ah, you seem a little ... apprehensive. Um... You are my Summoner ... right?"

...Yes...

"Yay! Contract established! I look forward to fighting by your side, my dear Summoner! " She jumps up in excitement after my answer. "To be honest, I the mighty Ah—I mean, I hoped that I could be a Champion to someone like you! Oh, my abilities might be a tad limited so you might be happy with me, Summoner, but ... I'll try my best!" She takes a hold of my hand and helps me to my feet. From the hand she had grabbed comes a sudden warmth ... and then a sharp pain, like I've been cut by a knife. On the back of my hand, as though tattooed, is a strange symbol that looks like some kind of crest. Totally confused, I alternate between staring at the mark on my hand and the person standing before me. And then—

A noise behind me brings me back to my senses. Turning around, I see that the effigy from before is still there, now in a fighting stance. I wince uncontrollably, recalling my previous defeat at its hands. "My Summoner, if it isn't any trouble, would you please leave this to me?" An orb of energy suddenly forms at her hands... Um, OK... "I will obliterate that worthless wooden toy and erase any trace of its existence from this world."

A new battle commences. Now, with this ... fox girl, by my side I feel that we can win this fight together. Wait, I can read this things abilities now! How about this? E, Q, W, Q, Q, Q! "Time to show this thing a true display of skill!" Just as the effigy is about to attack she blows a kiss to it and a gigantic heart-shaped spell travels in a line in front of her. The spell hits the effigy and it comes toward her much more slowly and ... without much aggravation. She immediately sends out her energy orb in a line in front of her and then pulls it back, dealing damage every time it hits the effigy. Then she twists around, as if she was dancing, and releases three fox-fires to surround her. Every one of the fires immediately target the effigy and attack. She resends her orb out to the enemy three more times before stopping. The effigy falls without even being able to react.

"My Summoner is so cool!" The girl cheers with joy as the enemy is destroyed. I feel like I want to celebrate too, somehow I feel as if I have gotten stronger from just this fight.

The battered effigy stops moving. There's no way it'll still function after being effectively torn apart. "Thanks to you, my dear Summoner, I was able to win while using only five percent of my power!" Five? She continues to talk... However, the sound of her voice doesn't quite reach my ears. The heat coming from the mark on my hand grew in intensity during the fight and the resulting pain has become unbearable and burns through my consciousness.

"The mark imprinted on your hand is your Command Seal. It is proof that you hold dominion over a Servant or Champion in this case. You can use it to give three orders that must be obeyed. think of them as disposable strengthening spells. It is also proof of your participation in the Holy Grail War. If you lose it for some reason, you will die." Once again, I hear that voice. I somehow manage to ignore the pain and listen to what it has to say. "I can understand your confusion, but before I forget... Congratulations. You have endured much to make it here. Now rest for a while; you've achieved your first goal. It was an incredibly clumsy effort to say the least, but that's what made it all the more entertaining. I've had this duty for a long time, but this is the first time I've seen a Summoner as helpless as you. Nevertheless, be proud of your achievement. your quick thinking came as a result of nerves and rashness."

...Thinking about it, the voice sounds like that of a thirty year old man. And it's really irritatingly smug. For some reason, I can see the owner of the voice as a priest, dressed in a somber cassock. "Oh, you are curious about my identity? I am honored, but I am insignificant. I am merely a part of the system. I am just a guide, tasked with giving a standard message and given the personality of a prior participant. I am no more than words, no more than the mountain you just conquered, no more than a record of the past." A record—So if I raise any objections to this voice, does it mean I won't receive an answers in return? "Exactly—Well, this is unexpected. You have received a commendation. Something about you 'having a light.'" I have no clue who would say such a thing about me... But that short phrase struck my heart, because for some unknown reason, I knew the words were sincere. And as for "I expect good things from you." It seemed like more of a command than an encouragement.

"Now, let us commence your baptism. You have proven yourself worthy of the honor. For most, the monotony of everyday life continues on without end. Your decision to look beyond the accepted and progress means you have earned the right to exist. However, you have but taken the first step. Be jubilant, young knight, for the Holy Grail War begins now!"

I have no idea what he's talking about. The Holy Grail War...? The right to exist...?

"That is correct. An object of great power once existed in the world. One that could grant any desire. People called it eh 'Holy Grail' and fought endlessly in an attempt to gain sole possession of it. This war—The System you find yourself in now is an evolution of those struggles. You stand at the entrance of a deadly struggle where many magi, or players in this case, will perish in pursuit of the Holy Grail. Listen, player. Had I not bestowed upon the Earth desire, you'd be merely saints capable of committing sin. Now fight to the death. The fiery throne of heaven will only receive those with the strongest of desires—" The voice reverberates throughout this hidden chapel, as if it were the voice of a god.

Kill...? Player...? Holy Grail that grants wishes...? These questions, and more, swirl inside of my head and almost seem to carve themselves into my flesh.

"In war, a weapon is needed. That is your Champion. They're the spear that pierces, the shield that protects. A Legendary Soul whose purpose is to clear your way to the Grail. That is the one who stands beside you." I look over at the young woman with the white fox tails, who returns my look with a glowing smile. She is my Champion... "It seems you have decided, and with that decision as payment, I now open the gates to the League of Legends."

The marks on my hand, my Command Seal, once again begin to become excruciatingly painful. It's over. I can't take it anymore. I reach the limits of my endurance and my mind starts to shut down. As I lose consciousness, I can vaguely hear the voice's final words.

"Now let the Holy Grail War begin. No matter the era, deciding who is worth through battle is the divine providence of man. Magi and Players who have been invited here by the Moon; show me your true strength—"

A/N: We have come to it at last.