Disclaimer: See the prologue

Italics indicates thought.
Underlines and italics indicates Saito's thoughts
Bold and italics indicates a location.
Bold text (Outside of any normal context) indicates a specific time period

It would be three months later that the mage would be called again.
The Lord of Terror had been resurrected on Earth,
And he was wrecking havoc with all of history
As his new task begins, the mage must find new allies:
Allies who have faced a different kind of darkness...
-Prophecy di luce e di ombre: Lines XXXII-XXXVI

Chapter 1: First Assignments and Interesting Revelations
Last time on Requiem of Shadows:

It has been three months since Saito was elected as Oricaltos, and something has already gone horribly wrong. Baal was raised from the dead, but the mage is facing an entirely new type of problem: the Lord of Terror was raised in the year 1666. After reassembling his old comrades, he explained the problem, and then began to explain his solution.

Onago's Forge: Draconia
Time: Fifteen minutes have passed since the meeting first began.

Laharl snorted aloud as he looked at the mage. "What are you planning to do, now that Baal has Dracula's army at his disposal?" The demonic grin that the prince received sent a series of chills down his spine. "What I am planning on doing is traveling the time streams, and retrieving key people who were known to have defeated Dracula throughout history. Are there any objections?" Setsuna raised his hand, and the Kaiser raised an eyebrow as he looked at the other hybrid. "What do you have to say, Setsuna?" "Well, this is more of a question than an objection to your case. How are we going to get to the different time periods, and then return here?"

Saito looked at Setsuna curiously and then shook his head. "It appears that you forgot about that gift I received from the Oracle of the Netherworld. I can open Time Gates now, remember?" The hybrid smacked himself on the forehead, and then he lowered his head. "Just forget that I even asked." Everyone laughed, and then they turned to Saito for instructions. "So, who is going after which of the Belmonts? And what year is each of us traveling to?" Priere asked, slightly puzzled. Saito thought for a moment, and then he smiled. "I already have your assignments ready, so listen carefully:"

"Seraph Lamington, I am sending you back to the year 1100. I need you to find and retrieve a few key figures for me." The Seraph raised and eyebrow, and then he smiled. "What should I tell Master Leon?" "Just let him know that his services are required. Also, I need you to grab a few vampires as well, namely Bernhard and Armster." The Seraph looked slightly puzzled at this statement. "What are you talking about? Both of them died at the hands of Leon Belmont." Saito sighed aloud, and then he explained. "Death has vanished from the time-streams, and that is why they are all still alive. The same thing goes for Sara Trantoul, Leon's beloved." "Wait a minute. Doesn't that mean that the VampireKiller whip has ceased to exist?" Saito snorted a laugh. "No, Michael. The VampireKiller was created in 1095, so it still exists in our slightly messed-up timeline." The Seraph rolled his eyes and then he stared at the Kaiser. "Anyone else that you want me to bring back?" I'm afraid that I might regret this, but I also need you to bring back Niteshade. I'm not going to question your motives on this one, Saito. Is that all? Yes.

Next, the Kaiser looked over at the only other hybrid in the room. "Setsuna, I am sending you after Sonia Belmont in the year 1453. She may be a little wary of you, so try not to be too intimidating." The hybrid nodded, and then he stood up and turned towards the door. He was stopped by the mage's voice. "I am not yet finished with handing out the assignments, Setsuna. Please remain seated until I tell you that you can move." The hybrid blanched, and then he nodded to the Oricaltos as he returned to his seat. Saito slowly shook his head as his gaze traveled around the table once again. Finally, his eyes settled on the former Overlord and his wife. "Rena, Nicholai, I am sending both of you to the year 1480. I need you to grab a few people, including one Devil Forgemaster." Nicholai raised an eyebrow at this statement, and he looked at the mage skeptically. "I thought that there were only two, and that they both worked for Dracula." "Well, one changed his tune shortly after his wife was burned at the stake, and he learned that the other Forgemaster was behind it. The two eventually ended up dueling, and the light Forgemaster, Hector, defeated his dark counterpart, Isaac. Hector then went on to defeat Dracula, and he ended the curse that the vampire had placed on the land." "Are you telling me that Dracula was responsible for the plague that started in 1476?" "Exactly." "So, who else are we going after besides the Devil Forgemaster Hector?" Rena asked casually. "Let's see... I also need you to grab Trevor Belmont, Sypha Belnades, and Hector's wife, Julia Laforeze. Any questions?" The young witch shook her head, and then she turned to her husband.

Saito next looked at the Overlord and his chosen. "Laharl, I am sending you and Flonne to 1595. I need you to bring back Christopher and Soleiyu Belmont." The Overlord nodded, but then he paused and thought for a moment. "If they attack me for being a vampire, what should I do?" The mage rolled his eyes as he looked at the younger vampire. "Use your own discretion, but please keep one thing in mind: I need both of them alive if this plan of mine is to work." "I understand that, Saito. I'll try not to be too hard on them." Saito nodded before turning to another one of the couples sitting around the table. "Éclair, I need you and Homard to go to the year 1695. It shouldn't take you too long to find Simon Belmont and his wife, Linda. They both need to be brought back here." The Dark Paladin and the Shadow Guard both nodded at this, and then they turned away from the table in order to discuss their plans.

The mage next turned his eyes to Marjoly. She smiled gently and easily. "My best guess is that you are sending me after the next Belmont, correct?" Saito smiled and nodded. "His name is Juste, and he can be found in the year 1745. However, I need you to give something to his wife for me." The witch looked at him curiously, and then asked the question that Saito had expected to hear. "Why?" "I appeared to her in a dream less than two days ago. I told her that she would remember exactly what I had to say when she received something in particular." "And what would that be?" she asked, slightly skeptical. The mage reached up to his neck and unclasped one of the pendants hanging there. Marjoly could not help but gasp at the site of the gem. It was jet-black in color, and shaped like a simple teardrop. This he handed over to the witch, and Marjoly took it without question. "Is there anyone else?" Saito paused for a moment, and then he looked at the Seraph. I'm not so sure as to whether or not it would be a good idea to drag Kischine and his wife into this… Oh, come on, Saito. If he found out about what Juste was going to be doing, then he would immediately want to get in on the action. Saito mentally sighed before turning back to Marjoly. If you insist, Michael. "I also need you to go after Maxim Kischine and his wife, Caitlin. Is that alright with you?" The witch flashed Saito a brilliant smile. "That's fine with me, as long as I am not stuck here all day long." The mage then turned and looked pointedly at Maderas. "YOU will be joining her, Maderas." The Nosferatu nodded quickly, as he could see that the mage was in a fairly bad mood.

After marking the witch and the vampire off of the list, Saito turned to look at Etna and her younger brother, Aramis. "I need you two to go to the year 1795, and bring me Richter and Annette Belmont. However, you might want to watch for two more time-travelers while you are at it." Etna tilted her head to one side, a bit puzzled by the mage's statement. "What do you mean by that? Exactly who are you talking about?" Saito sighed aloud, and then he held out both of his hands. "You have already seen how I can change my hands into steel claws, correct?" The younger demon nodded, and Saito continued. "Well, I didn't always know how to do that. One particular vampire taught me that technique, and he has been known to travel the time-streams. His name is Mirer Link. Most likely, he will also have his wife, the Lady Charlotte, with him. Please try to bring them back intact, Etna," the young mage pleaded. The pink-haired demon giggled before flashing the mage a demonic grin. "I'll keep that in mind, old friend."

AS Etna and Aramis began to discuss exactly who would be going after each of the couples, Saito's eyes settled on two very different siblings. "Priere, I am going to send you and your brother to the year 1835. The name that you need to keep in mind is Graves." "Graves? But I thought that we were just going after the Belmonts." "Nathan wields VampireKiller. Need I really say anything more?" The Alternate Overlord shook her head, but then she looked deep into the mage's eyes. "However, I have this funny feeling that Graves is not the only one that you want my brother and I to go after." "I was just getting to that," Saito said, turning to her younger brother. "Culotte, I need you to go after Hugh Baldwin and his wife. Also, the two of you might want to keep a sharp lookout for another time-traveler." "Why is this one so important, Saito?" "Well, maybe it is due to the fact that he is one of Vlad's half-vampiric sons. What do you think?" Priere swallowed hard and then she nodded. "How will we know if it is truly him?" "Well, for starters, he has a sword that is about as tall as he is. Second, there is a fairly annoying talking parasite in his left hand. That's about it." Priere nodded, and then she looked pointedly at her younger brother. Saito sighed and turned away, slightly annoyed.

His eyes next settled on Alouette and Croix. "I am sending you two on one of the tougher assignments. There are four particular couples that you need to find, and they are probably fairly spread out. The year that I am sending you both to is 1858." Alouette stopped, and then she tilted her head to one side. "I heard about those who hunted Dracula in the years before. If I believe correctly, there was Reinhardt Schneider, Carrie Fernandez, Henry Oldrey, and Cornell." "That is correct, young lady. However, please do not forget their, how should I say this, 'other halves'." The young angel nodded, and then she turned to her fiancé. Saito next looked to the Slayer of the Netherworld. "Gordon, I am sending you and Jennifer to 1920. I need both of you to locate John Morris and Eric Lecarde. As for Kurtis and Thursday: I'm afraid that you would probably stand out too much in any time period, so I am asking that you both stay here." The Prinny nodded in agreement, and then he asked the question that everyone had on their minds. "What time period are you going to, and who do you plan on retrieving?"

Saito looked around the table once, only to find that everyone was staring at him expectantly. "I am going to the year 2040. I have an odd feeling that the reincarnation of Death may be located there. In addition, I am planning on grabbing hold of Soma Cruz, Yoko Belnades, and both of the Belmonts." "Wait a minute. Did you just say that there are two Belmonts in that year?" Aramis asked, slightly surprised. "Yes, Aramis. There are two brothers. Besides, there is also the final piece of the puzzle that I need to find: Adrian Fahrenheit Tepes." "Alucard," Flonne whispered in awe. "The legendary first son of Dracula, and the reason for his destruction in 1792." The weredragon looked over at the fallen angel, and then he smiled. "That is correct, Flonne. He is Dracula's first son. He is also currently working for the Catholic Church under the alias of 'Genya Arikado'." The mage rose from his seat and stretched. "Now, are there any questions about the assignments that you have been given?" No one spoke, and the mage nodded his satisfaction. "Then good luck to all of you. We are to meet back here in ten minutes. Feel free to make any preparations, but please remember that it will take me some time to establish each gate. You are dismissed." Everyone rose from their seats, stretched, and attempted to put feeling back into their limbs. It had been nearly four hours since they had moved, and everyone needed time to recover.

Time: Half an hour after the meeting ended

Everyone waited outside of the meeting room for Saito to signal that he was ready to send them through the newly established Time Gates. "All right, everybody. It's time that we get to work." Everyone reentered the room in order to find that each of the gates had been marked by the mage. He shrugged, and then he held up his right hand, displaying a small series of vials. Inside of each vial was a small amount of a red fluid. Laharl raised a skeptical eyebrow, and Saito merely smiled. "I have made sure that only those who I want to use the gates will have access to them. These vials are for those of you who were not around for the ceremony that established me as Keeper of the Keys. For those of you who were there, I suggest that you keep a very tight hold on the pendants that I gave you, because they will be the only way that you can return here when your task is finished. Do I make myself clear?" Everyone nodded, and then Saito breathed out a loud sigh. "This is it, ladies and gentlemen. It is once more time to put our lives on the line, for the greater good of others. Good luck and Godspeed to all of you." After he had finished handing out the vials, the mage turned and strode through the Time Gate directly behind him. Each team looked at the others, and then they all passed through their respective Gates. Kurtis, it is your job to let them back in when they are finished with the retrieval. Don't disappoint me. I won't Saito. You have my oath on that. Thank you.

Author's note: Well, I established the time element, and it appears that I will finally put my final skill into practice. Be prepared for a serious shift in viewpoints when my story continues. Watch for my next chapter, Belmonts, Forgemasters, and New Problems. Please remember to READ AND REVIEW. Thank you.