The bell rung for 9:00. The students are chatting with each other, just before the day's class of 'History and Literature.' Kim and Dan were seated far from each other, Kim sitting in the front and Dan towards the back. Although they weren't within talking distance, you can see that they were communicating to each other through their facial expressions.
'Kim, where do you think Mr. de Vera is?'
'I don't know,' shrugged Kim. 'Usually, he can't wait to start class.'
'Great. The one time I'm punctual is the time he's tardy. Say, how did you do it?'
'Do what?'
'Summon you're Servant?' gestured Dan as he showed his Command Spells
'Put that down! Are you crazy?'
'No,' he shook his head with a chuckle. 'Oh, look. He's here.'
Through the door, a tall man in a polo shirt and khaki pants walked in. He immediately went for his desk to get a whiteboard marker. You can hear the student's chatter get quieter. You can still hear some talk but most get ready for the class.
'Hey, Dan,' gestured Kim, getting Daniel's attention. 'Don't you think Sir de Vera is acting a little strange?'
'He's not acting any stranger than he already is.'
'Dan!'
'I'm just saying! Now, he's controlled. He's not going to burst in excitement every few seconds.'
On the whiteboard, Mr. de Vera has already written the words 'Holy Grail.' The room suddenly got silent. You could hear the shuffling of feet and the rustling of papers. He raised the pen, ready to ask a question just like he does every start of class. Students buckled and smiles appeared in some of their faces, waiting to answer the question. You see, Sir Nico, for that's his name, has this thing, where asks 3 random students 1 random question. They get it right, they get bonus points added to their final grade. So you can imagine, everyone is just waiting for their name to be called out.
"Ms. Nicolas!" Sir de Vera pointed to the long-haired girl on the front row. "Tell me, what is the Holy Grail?"
"Yes sir." She stood up. "The Holy Grail was this cup that supposedly belonged to Jesus. When He was hung at the cross, a guy named Joseph caught some of His blood using that cup and has since employed guards to watch over it and guard it to this very day."
"Very good! Luis, why did Joseph post guards to ward people from a cup?"
Luis smiled. He knew he got this in the bag. "Sir! 'Cause drinking from the cup would bring eternal life."
"Hmm. Close enough."
Luis let out a big "Yes!"
"Last! Roland, can tell me the earliest mention of the Holy Grail?"
Everybody raised their hands, but Roland was not at all as enthusiastic. "Um... Sir, I don't know, Egypt?" The students sighs and made noises in frustration, begging Sir de Vera for another chance.
"Come on, sir! We all knew that one!"
"Give us another one!"
"Yeah, sir, please give us another one!"
"Alright, alright," he replied, silencing the students and letting out a chuckle. "But this is a hard one. Anyone who can answer this question can raise their hand for a shot. Give me an instance in history when the Grail was mentioned, other than in Arthurian legend."
No one had an answer. Roland let out a silent 'ooooh.' Dan looked at Kim, begging to answer, but Kim shot him daggers, saying, 'We have to keep this a secret. We can't tell anyone.'
"Nobody? I'm sure there's someone out there who's just shy."
'Hey, Dan?' gestured Kim, getting Dan's attention.
'Yeah?'
'Look at Mr. de Vera's right hand'
Dan shifted his focus to the right hand of his Literature and Writing teacher that was grasping the whiteboard marker. Around his hand was a brace of some sort, but most noticeably, it covered the back of his hand.
'Kim, you don't think that Sir Nico is...?'
Kim didn't give an answer. The rest of the class was very much normal. Nobody could answer the last bonus question, so a lot of students were upset. Teacher Nico transitioned from the Holy Grail to the importance of observation and research. How one of the ways you can relate t the audience more is by making what you're writing about more real, which involves research and observation.
The bell rang and students started getting ready for the next class. Nico de Vera eyed Kim for a while and then called her,
"Ms. Kimberly Velez."
'Watch out. He called you by your full name,' gestured Dan, letting out a silent laugh.
Kim smiled and repled to Dan with a, 'Wait for me.' Kim, already halfway to the door
"Yes, sir?"
"Why didn't you raise you're hand a while ago?"
Kim got nervous that she started fiddling with her hand behind her back. Dan could hear the conversation and read what Kim was feeling. "Well, sir, I couldn't think of any other instance in history?"
"Really?" replied the teacher. "I always thought you knew everything," he playfully said. Then he added, "Plus, you looked like you were raring to answer."
Kim responded quickly, saying "I wanted to, but... my mind was drawing a blank"
"Well, ok." He gave a warm smile, it was almost too warm. "See you again on Thursday."
Dan and Kim have just exited the classroom. Kim's heart was racing and Dan was acting a bit more curious. They turned to a quiet hallway, and as soon as it was clear, they started talking.
"What was that about?" interject Dan.
"I don't know. He's much sterner now, he's acting strangely suspicious, and his hand. I can't help but think that he might be another Master."
"Why would he drill you? Has he talked to you before?"
"No, this would eb the first time. Plus, I'm not the only one who may 'know everything.'"
"Right! So what's he playing at, saying that you're the smartest kid in class, buttering you up. Wait... did you write about the wars in your research?"
"Of course not! I wouldn't do anything that stupid."
"I'm confused. What's the point, too, of him coming onto you like that? And why you? You'd think I'd be the one he'd notice. I was the one who wanted to answer."
"Look, we'll talk about this later. Right now, let's just get through school."
Dan was sitting outside their school's Math department, waiting for Kim to finish her work for extra credit. Come 5:00, papers were being kept and drawres being closed. In a few minutes, Kim got out and Dan stood up to meet her.
"Dan?"
"Yep, I waited. Couldn't leave you walking home alone, especially if our suspicions are correct."
"Right... Let's walk"
The sun was close to setting. The two were walking through the school's lobby when they heard a loud bang.
"What was that?" said Dan.
"I'm not entirely sure."
'Master, I sense another Servant is near,' whispered Archer to Kim.
'Are you sure?'
'Positive, wait, make that 2.'
A figure dashed into the hallway. It looked humanoid was made entirely of light and shadow, as if it danced together. It got closer and closer. The closer it got, the more the light faded and the shadow lifted.
'Archer, you can come out now,' said Kim, terrified.
Archer quickly materialized, but just as she did, the figure was already close and swung its sword at Kim. There was a flash of light. A clang of steel. A woman's voice shouted something that sounded indistinct. A swoosh in the air and clatter of metal on the ground. Kim and Dan opened the eyes to a woman with a drawn stick pointed at the figure's throat, its sword on the ground.
Nico de Vera stepped out and shouted, "Come on Ariel. Play time's over. You know this is illegal."
Silence. A long silence followed. And then, a garbled voice commanded, "Saber, withdraw." The figure disappeared. The Lit teacher looked really wary. For a while a stood there, scanning the lobby for any more troubles, then he turned to the two, clearly frightened.
"Come, Kim, Daniel. We've got a lot to prepare."