Hey guys here we are back at chapter 1! (revised of course) Anyone who has read my story before will recognize the characters and those have don't well welcome aboard. Now that I'm starting to get shit settled out at school (and real-life wise) I should be able start cranking out new content.
Chapter 1:The Misako Fortress
For me it began on a dark rainy night on the anniversary of the deaths of my family. I didn't bother speaking a word as I stared at their memorial gravestone, what was I supposed to say? I only had minimal understanding of the Holy Grail War, beyond that I only still didn't completely understand what they made me into. I could only sigh as the rain pattered around me and against my umbrella as if it were fate telling me this was the destiny of my family now, to end in darkness, misery and death. "Why did you do it Mom…? Why did you do it Dad…? Why did you mold me like clay into something I can never be…?" I whispered pleadingly.
Suddenly to make matters worse I heard footsteps disturbing the rhythm of the rain drops as a tall thin man clad in a religious black cloth with almost soul-less violet eyes and auburn hair approached me with a bouquet of roses. "Please accept my condolences," he said in a flat tone with barely a hint of sincerity. "I am deeply sorry for what happened to your family Miss Misako." He said as he slightly bowed. I knew his personality all too well, I could feel the anger rising inside me as I stood stiff refusing to look at him. "My apologies Father Takahashi but you know I must be left alone…" I snapped with as much venom as I could in my words however he remained there still as a statue as he stepped closer behind me looking ahead as if speaking with an unseen presence. "Eight years have passed since their death….you and I both know it is time…" He said as he slightly cocked his head to the side as if mildly puzzled. "Why haven't you prepared Miss Misako?" That was when I felt my body tense up as I grew upset turning towards him glaring into those cold eyes. "I will have nothing to do with the Grail! Its taken enough of my family's blood! Why would it need me?! I will NOT participate in the damn war!"
That was when the former Vatican Executor's face formed a twisted smile as he leaned in close to me and whispered. "You cannot escape from it…." I gasped and violently pushed him away as I sprinted out of the cemetery heading straight home as I screamed hysterically. "I WONT do it! I WONT! I WONT!" disregarding my umbrella as I stepped onto the property of my family's main house I tossed it aside as I entered throwing off my shoes and running into the living room and collapsing on the couch clutching myself in fear as I screamed. "I WONT! I WONT!" and that was when the bright sizzling light appeared on my chest as I writhed in pain crying as my Command Seal appeared, marking me as a Master of the Holy Grail War.
When the light vanished I didn't look down my shirt to see it, I didn't bring up a mirror to see if it was some sort of fluke. I knew what the light meant. I knew what my life was going to be like from now on for the next several weeks, I knew my life was going to be in almost constant peril. However that failed to relieve the sadness I was feeling. As I lay there a sudden wave of impending death washed over me. I quickly rose throwing off the blanket and put on my glasses as I stepped through the hall closing my eyes as I reached out with my mana connecting my consciousness with that of my family's raven familiars overlooking the perimeter of the main house. As I searched sure enough I spotted two men entering the perimeter. One of them seemed to be wearing chain mail armor and holding a large bow in his hand. That's definitely an Archer class Servant. I thought as the other man seemed to be directing orders to him chuckling as he stared at my home…directly at me. I quickly closed the connection with the ravens and began methodically activating the defense system my family put in place pieces of my vision changing as I could see a web of disconnected strings, each controlling a piece of the defenses. I exhaled a soft breath as I connected to the strings with my mana essentially connecting my very being with the house.
This connection did not slow my movement however as I kept moving doing my best to stay out of sight of Archer's arrows. My house was filled with ancient magical artifacts collected by my parents over their years of traveling the globe. Some of those artifacts deadly, and I planned to use them all against a spiritual being that I was sure 15 times stronger than me. I winced as the first arrows thudded against the magical barrier sending painful sensations through my body. I momentarily touched the center of my chest where the Command Seal was located as the fear inside me envisioned one of Archer's arrows puncturing my body right on that mark killing me instantly. No…! No..! I can't think like that! I yelled mentally as I shook my head and patted my cheeks trying to psyche myself up for the battle. As more arrows pounded against the barrier I took hold of 7 of the strings I was connected to, and strummed each of them elegantly as if I were playing a harp.
Aaron Roderick began gritting his teeth in frustration as he watched his servant Archer of Black relentlessly pound the barrier before them with his arrows. Being a proud 32 year old nobleman from Dover, England. As a professor at the Clock Tower in London he always believed himself to be a superior being to people around him as he came from an "honorable" line of magus he always accomplished his goals brutally and efficiently. His frustration only grew when ice shards and pointed spears of flames arrows from the estate raining down upon them. Aaron quickly formed his own barrier alongside Archer. Aaron was simply beside himself with anger, a Japanese high school girl was making a damn mockery of everything he worked so hard to achieve with her pointless persistence. This girl will pay for defying me! He thought as he saw Archer loose a powerful volley of arrows from his bow as the barrier soon shattered. "The barrier is down but we must proceed with caution Master…this girl we were told to hunt is no fool…" Aaron glared at him as a smile creased his face. "I can see that you dolt! Now come along Archer, let us proceed forward and kill her!" He said as they moved closer to the house amidst the volleys of elemental projectiles raining down upon them.
I hissed in pain as I felt the connection to the barrier snap from my grasp as it was destroyed. I had to find cover fast as despite me returning fire upon them as I fired arrows, fire spears and ice shards at them only to no avail as they continued their advance regardless. Damnit! I'm only slowing them down! I thought as I gritted my teeth as I darted across corners and halls continuing to fire whenever I could. Soon, Archer's arrows began smashing through the outer walls puncturing the interior. More waves of pain rushed through me as I felt each of the projectile mana strings snap one by one. I could hear his Master laughing arrogantly as I dove and ran trying to remain in the shadows as much as possible. As I opened up the false wall panel that revealed the entrance to my family's lab I heard him call out to me tauntingly. "Come out girl! Come see who the superior mage truly is! Come see just before Archer's mighty arrows skewer your young flesh!" He said as he laughed full of confidence. As sweat dripped from my face, adrenaline rushing through my body I silently whispered. "Not yet….I still have two cards left to play…" I snapped my finger as a small blue spark drifted down to the floor and flowed through the house as if it were a vein giving blood to a body "awakening" the last and final defense.
As Aaron and Archer moved to enter the house white spectral figures wearing armor appeared before them and charged. Aaron's momentary shock was accompanied by his small praise of clever intelligence on the part of his prey. She certainly is clever…if she were a student at the Clock Tower she would definitely prove to be a gifted mage…however I can tell she is delaying the inevitable. He thought as him and his Servant began to clash with the undead illusionary warriors. He looked at Archer and said. "end this nonsense Archer!" His Servant only nodded and jumped into the air firing down an powerful arrow that quickly dispatched most of the warriors. The rest was easy to finish off as suddenly the wall in front of them exploded and Aaron saw the most peculiar thing he had ever seen in all of his years as a mage.
As I rooted through the small armory my family had kept I could hear Archer and his Master clashing with the illusionary army outside. "That isn't going to hold them for long…" I thought out loud as I finally found my personal naginata and my katana, the weapons I had held since I was old enough and strong enough to wield them. As I exited the lab I began calling upon the power within me closing my eyes as I unlocked all of my magical circuits feeling a powerful surge of mana that burned like the hottest flame flowing through my veins. "Please Amaterasu… guide me in this hour of need…" I silently whispered praying to the supposed fragment of her spirit within me. Sure enough a series of bright blue glyphs and markings appeared streaming across my entire body into an artistic tattoo-like painting. I could feel the small bright blue flames of mana burning on my skin only instead of sending pain I felt waves of power flowing through me. I almost fainted feeling the sensations of warmth that could only be akin to a powerful euphoria.
As I slashed through the wall before me Archer and his Master gazed at me almost bewildered by what they were seeing. I guess this is the first time anyone has really seen me like this in a while…. No one ever really knew the experiments Mom and Dad always conducted on me… I thought as I pointed my naginata at him a stiff fiery glare in my eyes as if I were declaring war. "I'll make you pay for trespassing on my home!" I yelled and began charging towards him with the full force of my power. I could almost see a glint of surprise as I moved to attack him only for it to be replaced my arrogance again as my blades only met Archer's bow as he blocked my attack shielding his Master. Aaron laughed triumphantly as he watched the girl begin to battle Archer. "Surrender now girl! A Master can NEVER hope to defeat a Servant alone!" I winced feeling the truth of his stinging words as I did my best to match Archer blow for blow jumping back and deflecting his arrows. I have to try…I thought as I dashed forward flowing more power into my weapons for a final attack. I could almost see the soft smile of praise on Archer's face as he loosed another powerful arrow attack as the shot clashed with my own. I cried out in pain as the shot sent me flying back onto the grass, the azure light from my body vanishing as my weapons clattered to the ground nearby. This was it…I knew the arrow had pierced me as I saw the blood forming between my breasts amidst the tear in my shirt from which the tip had punctured. I could feel the darkness coming as I heard Archer's Master chuckling. "Our work is done Archer…let us leave this instant." He said as the sounds of their footsteps drifted away to silence. As I lay there I could feel the darkness closing over me like a blanket.
Is this it…? Is this really the end…? I whispered in my mind gazing out at the darkness. My death was here…but why was I so hesitant to let it embrace me? Suddenly a beautiful sweet voice in the darkness called out. No…! You mustn't die…! Your chapter has not met its end! It said as I saw a pair of soft pale feminine hands take hold of mine as the voice said. My sword….your family holds the key…I shall be your protector…You mustn't leave this world…It softly whispered. Before I could speak I began to sense two figures approaching. Oh no! Have they come back to finish me off?! I thought as the footsteps drew closer and I heard a girl's voice. "Looks like we were too late, Lancer, go investigate inside the house." She said as one of the pairs of footsteps swiftly darted past me. The next thing I knew when I opened my eyes I was staring up at the face of a young girl who was my age as she held up my head on her legs as she asked questioningly. "Hey are you alright? Where is your Servant?" And so began the night of which I was to meet the Masters and Servants of Red.
And there it is! What did you guys think? Did you guys prefer the way I had it before? Or do you like the new version? Anyway I'll do my best to crank out the next chapter when I can I've just been busy. Cya in chapter 2!