Salt Lake City, USA, 2043
"For someone as the head of a relatively powerful organization, I expected a better office."
I could only sigh in lament as I shuffled around in my chair. Honestly, just what was taking her so long? This was boring! There was nothing to do. Nothing to read. Nothing to even look at. I was starting to question if I was in the right building; place was a sterile looking as a god damn hospital! Even the chairs weren't comfortable!
Honestly, why was I even bothering with this? I could have just left the invites in the reception area and dipped! Curse me and my sense of duty! There was so much to do, so little time to do it, and here I was offering her the chance to prove not only her own competency, but also the competency of the organization she founded!
And she has the audacity to run late today, of all days!
Eventually, though, I would hear the sound of heels through my silent ranting, clacking down the hallway behind him. The sound was followed by the jingling of keys, the sound of a lock turning, and-
"Buzz blades!"
Hmm, didn't even give me a single second to say something. I wanted to say this was an improvement to her reaction speed, but truthfully, I couldn't recall her speed about such a thing from some twentyish years ago.
It was fortunate, then, that I had anticipated such a reaction from her.
"Well, that was rude" I smirked to myself as the familiar blades of wind crashed into my barrier. "Is that how you greet old friends, Sortiara?"
"We were never friends" Sortiara growled as she closed and locked the door behind me, before walking around to her chair behind her desk. "More importantly, what the fuck was that barrier?"
"Really, that's what you're most curious about? Not how I-"
"You finding a way to break into my office is both unsurprising and completely in character for someone like you."
"I... I don't know how I feel about that?"
"Answer my question, Tristan."
"You're not the only one between the two of us with the means to utilize magical formulae anymore" I grinned, wagging the book I was holding.
Sortiara turned her attention to my book for a moment before sighing.
"A mystic code. Do I even want to know how you managed to get your hands on such a thing? Or make it work for you?"
"Perhaps you really would" I responded to her sarcasm with sincerity. "At least with this mystic code I don't have to worry about the leylines."
That caught her attention, and I could practically feel the room become deathly serious.
"How do you know about the leylines?"
"The quick answer to the question would be unbelievable, the explanation would be time consuming, and what I'm actually here for will lead you to the answers on your own, assuming…"
I gave a little wave of my hand.
"Well, regardless of if you come to the answer on your own or not, do you really want me hanging around here long enough for my explanation?"
"Of course not! Now, why are you even here? I have no business with someone like you."
"Ah, but I have business with you. Nay, the entire world of magecraft" I grinned. "For you see, I have the solution to your problem."
"What problem? If you're talking about the leylines, that's not a problem for us."
"Not yet it isn't" I nodded. "Amend your statement to that, and I agree. The leylines of the Americas, while few in number, were largely untapped until… our mess in Virginia. Assuming everything stays the course, the leylines of the Americas will outlast you, and perhaps even your children."
"So clearly-"
"But things won't remain the course, now will they" I continued, cutting off her rebuttal. "Across the… old world, let's put it, the leylines are dying. Have been for years now. A couple more years, and they'll be completely spent. Once that happens, well… the natural conclusion of things is obvious."
"Yeah? What is this grand conclusion of yours?"
"Come now Sortiara. While we both know that the Association cares not for the Americas, once their leylines are well and truly gone for good, they will come here. Same goes for the Spiral Manor, and any other group or faction of magi. The American Institute of Magecraft will be set upon on all sides by rival groups trying to get their grubby mitts on the final dregs of magical energy accessible on Earth. Do you really think any of them will ally with you, or bend the knee and enter the fold? To an organization that hasn't even stood two decades and can barely fend off the Church?"
"The Americas lack their magical foundations; we'll win."
"You'll rack up a high kill count" I corrected. "But killing the most people isn't winning. This isn't a team deathmatch, it is domination. Or king of the hill, if you'd prefer. And when the dust settles, trust me, no one from AIM will be the one standing on that blood-soaked hill."
"…"
"So yes, revel in the current floundering and tribulations of the Association as they try in vain to save their leylines. I sure am" I grinned. "But if you fail to acknowledge that the leylines dying is your problem, you're as dumb as my fellow countrymen who believe water scarcity isn't our problem, because we have the great lakes. For what good does controlling the resource do, if we lack the means to defend it?"
"Marvelous lecture, professor" Sortiara rolled her eyes. "You've yet to tell me why you're actually here though, and I'm already at half a mind to remove you by force."
"Great to see you're still a mood killer" I sighed. "To get to the point, I'm running a Holy Grail War, and I'm here to offer you a spot in it."
The room fell silent while Sortiara absorbed what I'd just told her. Then, after a moment of mulling it over… laughter.
"You're starting up a Holy Grail War" Sortiara continued to laugh. "Yeah, ok… get out of my office, before I kill you for wasting my time."
"You don't believe me?"
"Only a complete idiot would! You're not even a magus, for crying out loud! There hasn't been a Holy Grail War since Virginia, Tristan! I know for a fact that there's zero preparation for one within the entirety of the Americas, and there's no way in hell that the Association would ever help you, a complete outsider, set up such a thing! That's all assuming it was even possible in the first place! The Einzberns still sit in self-isolation, the Matous have all died out and the last of the Tohsakas are busy trying to keep some relevant amount of presence alive for the Association in Japan! We never learned how our parents formed their version of the ritual, and our parents turned themselves into the bloody cup for the Virginia war, so they're not alive to even ask for info on that version of it, let alone help! Then, just to top all of that, no one knows what Assassin's master wished for in the Virginia war, and no one has seen nor heard from him since! For all anyone knows, he changed his mind, killed Assassin, used the grail to reach the root, and poof, there goes the use of the third magic!"
"…You do know the root isn't required to restore the leylines, yes?
"Great, you got me there Tristan! That doesn't discount literally anything else I mentioned!"
"…"
"…"
"…Well, I actually do know the answers to the last bit. I also do know how both versions of the war were created. But all of that aside, you're right in that I can't set up a Holy Grail War-"
"Obviously!"
"-on Earth" I finished. "The amount of magical energy required to start even one along the previous systems simply isn't present currently, even in the Americas. Would take a few more decades for the leylines in the Americas to gather enough magical energy for another war, and that's a race against the clock I can't really afford to take, to say nothing about all the other headaches trying to run one on Earth would cause. Side note though: nice spy network."
"Thanks. What do you mean not on Earth?"
"Exactly what I said. The Holy Grail War I'm planning isn't going to be held on Earth. At least, not in any way I bet you're thinking. It's also not going to be a traditional Holy Grail War. Forty-nine masters, invited from across the world of magecraft. Talking about the Association, Spiral Manor, the Church, AIM, you name it. Forty-nine masters, to power one grail with forty-eight, or forty-nine, Heroic Spirits worth of magical energy. Enough energy which, provided that's what the winner wishes to use the grail for, could restore the leylines. Or unlock the divine leylines even, maybe? Really, considering what six or seven Heroic Spirits enables, multiplying that output roughly sevenfold unlocks some truly insane possibilities."
"…"
"…"
"…You're actually not lying about this."
"Why would I lie? It's my war, and I need bodies for it. No need to lie; I want people there."
"And if nobody shows up?"
"As unlikely as that is, all things considered, I don't need magi for this war. I'm no magus, but I will be one of the participants. Capabilities as a magus is irrelevant; my systems will deal with such… personal limitations. If magi don't take my invitation, then I will turn to the governments of the world. Without a doubt, they will participate."
"You would have outsiders participate in a grail war" Sortiara huffed. "Of course you would… Smart if you actually want the Association to take you seriously."
"Take me seriously or not, I just want magi in this over normal people. Magi would make it all far more fun."
"This is just a game to you, isn't it?"
"Everything is a game Sortiara. I believe I taught both you kids that."
"Yeah, and we at AIM have no time for dealing with things so trivial as games designed by a madman."
"Really? You can't think of a single use for a grail, in your current position?"
"…"
"…As I thought" I grinned, reaching into my jacket for my folder. "By all means, you have a year to think it over, and get prepared with a catalyst should you wish to join."
I pulled out of the folder a golden colored page and placed it on Sortiara's desk.
"What is this supposed to be" Sortiara barely bothered to glance at the page.
"Your invitation. Out of consideration for our… history… I am personally guaranteeing you a spot in this war, should you wish to join. Same as with Johnathan."
"You've already spoken to Johnathan about this" Sortiara raised an eyebrow.
"I did… about three years ago now."
"Three years ago?! What the hell is-"
"Let's be real here, Sortiara" I sighed. "We don't like each other, and I highly doubt that you hold even a modicum of respect for me."
"No shit."
"So why would I approach you first?"
"You gave him a three-year head start!"
"You're still getting a head start over everyone else. The mass invitation to the rest of the magi in the world, and the Church, doesn't happen until next week."
"That's not the same!"
"Your situations were also not the same" I flatly pointed out. "You were an upstart mage heading a new, upstart organization, at war with the Church for your right to exist and on the brink of a war with the Association. Me going to you then, right after talking to Johnathan, would have done what, exactly? Would you have actually worked on getting shit ready for my war, even if you were interested at the time?"
"…No."
"Figured. Meanwhile, Johnathan was sitting around at home, with his family, teaching his kids magecraft and trying to help the Spiral Manor keep the leylines in China going. Also trying to revive his adoptive mother's form of magecraft; move it beyond him and his limited capabilities for using it, considering his magical aptitude. With the leyline crisis, though, it hasn't been a major focus for him, or his few allies within the Spiral Manor, for quite some years now."
"…He's married… with kids?"
"Happily so, at least when I last spoke to him" I shrugged, pretending to not notice the change in tone from Sortiara. "But true to my word with him, I haven't spoken or seen him since I spoke to him three years ago, so I couldn't tell you currently what position he's in. That's one of the reasons I approached him so early: he has a family to consider as well."
"You needed more time for him to sit on it; have it eat away at him!"
"...Indeed" I smirked at Sortiara's accusing glare. "I knew he was desperate to fix the leyline issue. He's too kind for his own good, in that way. But to approach him only a year in advance… I didn't think enough time would pass; wouldn't see big enough degradation in the leyline situation to consider leaving his family behind to join a Holy Grail War, of all things. But now that he's had three years to see it continue to crumble apart in front of his eyes, despite all his efforts, knowing that I offer him a very real chance to fix it all... By now, I'm sure he's made up his mind to join my war, and has begun searching for an appropriate catalyst. But am I really in the wrong here? I want him in my war, he wants a way to fix the leyline issue… We both benefit from this, from where I'm sitting."
"Bullshit! You have no intention of letting him win this war!"
"Well, of course not" I rolled my eyes. "He'll have to compete for it just like the rest of us. I too have my own plans for the grail."
"You'd have his kids grow up without a father!"
"His wife seems plenty capable at looking after two kids on her own, from what I've seen of her" I waved my hand dismissively. "I can't see Johnathan or his wife being dumb enough to have the both of them enter this war, at the very least. His kids will be fine if they don't happen to see father dearest for a couple of years or so. Of course, should the worst case come to pass, they'll never see their father again, but just like the previous wars, the masters don't need to die; only the Heroic Spirits."
"You know masters are targeted in these things!"
"Yes, so let us both pray he is competent enough to survive this, eh?"
"You-"
"Fascinating that you care so much about him though" I smiled. "You still haven't moved on yet, even after all this time. But hey, there's a reason for you to join my war! If nothing else, the grail can surely be used to fix-"
I very suddenly lost my capability to speak as Sortiara lunged across the desk and wrapped her hand around my throat.
"Finish that, I dare you" Sortiara's death glare seemed to bore holes right through me as she slowly released her grip and sat back down.
"Ack, well now" I coughed and spluttered. "That was… admittedly deserved."
"Yeah, now get out of my office, and this building. We're done here."
"Agreed" I nodded as I stood up. "Ah, but if I could warn you about one last thing?"
"…What?"
"You might have missed it, but this war of mine is going to be a lot longer than the previous wars. I'm not talking months instead of weeks, either. It is a nigh certainty that this war will be at least a year, and quite likely longer. You may not have any non-magi factors to consider, but just understand that, if you join, you could be gone for quite a while."
"Understood. Now leave."
"Of course" I nodded as I unlocked the office door. "A pleasure as always, Amy."
A/N
Ah, glad to be back to posting for this
Thinking this "prologue" bit is going to be some 5-6 parts, roughly. Just to set up the background and all, y'know?
How you all can bear with that; trying to make it interesting
As always, see y'all in the next post o7
