Constructed before World War II and built atop a hill just an hour's walk away from Miyama Town, the Fuyuki City Church stands tall with all of its history.
Utilized by the Holy Church to station the Overseer for the Fuyuki Holy Grail War and to otherwise supervise the city from any unwanted supernatural incidents. It is also one of the places for the Holy Grail evocation.
Due to the Holy Grail War being named after the Holy Grail, the Holy Church will inevitably become involved with the proceedings. They cannot allow treasures bearing its name, even if they are certainly fakes, to be utilized by magi without intervening. With the agreement of the Mage's Association and founders of the Holy Grail War, they act as impartial judges presiding over the seven Masters and provide resources for the concealment of mystery due to the nature of the battles between Servants.
The Church became involved during the Second Fuyuki Holy Grail War, officially appointing an overseer as of the Third Fuyuki Holy Grail War. Currently, the overseer duties fall under the man known as Risei Kotomine, and possibly his son, as he is a devout man who views this duty as an honor unimaginable. However, at this moment, Risei doesn't feel the honor is worth much in his life.
The atmosphere inside the church was grim, with Risei suddenly gain a piece of unbelievable news.
"What?" Tokiomi said his tone was weak, with hopeful denial. Risei on the other hand looked visibly older, pale, and trembling.
"The assassin has been defeated," Risei said slowly, emphasizing each word. Tokiomi remained silent for a moment before he slowly slumped towards the chair behind him, his hand supporting his head.
"W...w...what about Kirei?" He asked, stuttering. Risei didn't respond; his silence was enough of an answer.
"How could this be?" Tokiomi asked weakly, his tone defeated. Without Kirei and his Servant, how could he continue his fight for the Grail?
While Tokiomi was in despair, Risei silently left the room, his shoulders hunched and his hands clenched into fists.
When Tokiomi realized Risei had left the room, he gasped in realization and then left hurriedly, trying to stop Risei.
When Tokiomi found Risei, the priest was about to leave the church. Seeing his friend was about to leave, Tokiomi quickly called out to him.
Tokiomi called out, stopping Risei from going out.
"Where are you going?" Tokiomi asked Risei didn't answer nor turning around he merely stand still.
"Risei!" Tokiomi called him out again.
"I will avenge my son," Risei responded, his voice devoid of any emotion, not even a stutter; this response enraged Tokiomi.
"Are you mad?!" Tokiomi shouts in rage, while Risei merely snorts.
"Perhaps I am," he said as he continued to walk away.
"Risei!" Tokiomi shouted his name again.
"You'll die if you leave!", Tokiomi shouts again.
As an overseer of the Holy Grail Wars, Risei was expected to be neutral, even if one of the participants died and he was their father. This is because the Church was supposed to act as an external party to keep the war secret from society and they also functioned to provide protection for the defeated Master from the other Master's aggression; by default, this protection also extended to the Overseer himself.
But if Risei were to leave the church to fight against one of the war participants that protection were considered null and void, not only that because Risei had broken the church neutral position it could risk to a problem even Tokiomi unable to walk away.
The worst thing was because it was Risei initiative to assault the master, it can be said that the church were the one trying to take over the grail. Chances are in order to pacified the mages Risei will be thrown to the wolves, as an ally to the Kotomine family and also his pride as a magus he can't allowed Risei to do this, at least not now.
Unfortunately for Tokiomi or perhaps fortunate depending how you looked at, Tokiomi warning set of the burning emotions within Risei as he turned around and approached Tokiomi his face was snarling.
"Die? Die!? I just lost my son!!! Should i just stand and do nothing!!?" Risei shout back only to be met with Tokiomi scolding gaze.
"You've lost a son tonight, I lost a student and a friend. Trust me Risei I understand what youre feeling." Tokiomi responds angering Risei.
SMACK!
Risei punch Tokiomi so hard he fell to the floor.
"They are not the same!!" Risei shouted.
"Do you know the pain of losing your child!? Your own flesh and blood!?" Risei heatedly asked Tokiomi.
"Perhaps you would if I find and kill your daughters, perhaps you would've then understood!!!" Risei threatened, changing Tokiomi expression.
Even a magi had their priorities.
"If you did, I would've killed you." Tokiomi threatened back while standing up, Risei didn't even flinch as he looked back at Tokiomi.
"Than what right do you have to stopped me?" Risei asked softly, but Tokiomi can still hear him. Unable to answer Tokiomi merely stand in silence while looking at Risei, realizing that Tokiomi had no answer Risei turned back towards the door.
Just as Risei was about to open the door, Tokiomi called him again.
"What about your duty then, Risei?" Tokiomi asked loudly stopping Risei from his path.
"Will you abandoned them?" Tokiomi continued, meanwhile Risei was trembling in rage. Knowing full well that Risei while humble is a proud man. Proud of his achievements, proud of his religion, and proud of his duty. He poked Risei where it was the most vulnerable, his Pride, and it work.
"What about your faith? Have you given it up?" Tokiomi continued, after all if a man leaving his home with the intention to die, albeit fighting someone, what was that called if not suicide. As a man proud of his religion how could Risei didn't know what Tokiomi implied.
"Silence..." Risei quietly said but Tokiomi didn't hear it.
"What about your granddaughter? Will you abandoned her as well?" Tokiomi desperate to stop Risei decided to mention Caren.
"Silence." Risei said a little louder this time but Tokiomi ignored him.
"She had lost her parents! will she lost her grandfather as well?" Tokiomi said almost screaming.
"I said Silence!!" This time Risei shouted while going back to Tokiomi and clutch his clothes and glare at him right in the eye.
"Kept your mouth shut!" Rizei said heatedly with threat of harm if he continue, looking at the enrage Risei Tokiomi ignored his threat and continue speaking.
"She needs you now more that ever Risei." Tokiomi said softly mentioning Caren.
"Do not given up on her, you are all she had now..." Tokiomi continued.
"If not for her then do it for your son, she is what is left of Kirei." Tokiomi finished.
Trembling in rage Risei lift his fist ready to punch, Tokiomi closed his eyes in preparation to receive it.
BOOM!
Flinching at the loud noise Tokiomi open his eyes and greeted with the sight of Risei with his fist bleeding, in front of him is a destroyed podium, the man himself looking at the giant cross on the wall with moonlight shining through the open ventilation on him, as if trying to soothe the man.
Trembling in rage, Risei then fall to his knees silently crying. Tokiomi approached him, once he realized the mourning father had ceased to be aggressive, he put his hand on Risei shoulder in an attempt of support, Tokiomi lowered his head to mourn the lost of his student and friend.
Tokiomi himself had already accepted the cold hard fact.
He had lost the war.
Located on the southern end of Miyama Town among the western style houses, TheMatou residence stand in its supernatural glory.
Looking at the place where he grew up, Kariya felt nausea as he realized he had spent his childhood under a disgusting presence of Zouken.
"Let's go, Berserker."
With the support of Berserker he forced himself to get inside the house.
The interior was dark and cold, very much befitting its first impression. Just as Kariya walked inside the hall he saw a someone walked through the hall.
It was a young girl at the age of 5 or 6, she has a violet hair bind by a ribbon her magenta colored eyes were looking down on the floor.
Seeing her Kariya suddenly shed a tear for her suffering and his eventual end.
"Sakura." Kariya whisper loud enough for her to hear, lifting her head she saw a familiar person.
"Uncle...Kariya?" She called out, hearing her voice Kariya let go of Berserker and walked in front of her and kneeled, looking at her closely before crying.
Looking at her gloomy air and depressed state, Kariya couldn't help but blame himself for her current situation.
If only he didn't run away, if only he didn't escape, if only he...!!! Unfortunately it's already too late for regret...no!...if he stay whoever his children is will suffer the same fate like Sakura. No! He didn't regret leaving the Matou family. No! It was all that Tokiomi bastard fault!! If he didn't give away Sakura...if he actually loved her...then this will never happen in the first place! Kariya was sobbing while blaming Tokiomi in his heart.
Looking at the sobbing man, Sakura was surprise when Kariya suddenly hug her tightly, feeling a rare warm feeling she returned the hug. While sobbing, Kariya can't help but apologize to her.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry..." He repeatedly said like a broken record. It took a while for Kariya to calm himself and spoke again.
"It must be hard for you..." He started speaking.
"All alone in this place..." Kariya started to hug Sakura tighter, before letting her go and looking at her straight in the eyes, his hand still holding her shoulder.
"Things are going to be better so..." He tried to say 'it's going to be alright' 'everything is going tobe okay' or something along those lines but Kariya knew in his state he might not survive the war in the end and he was unwilling to spread a false hope to Sakura. So this is the best he can do to support Sakura.
"You need to be strong alright?" Unfortunately Sakura didn't answered him which hurt more to Kariya than an open rejection.
"Sakura...please...You need to be strong...for now...please..." Kariya called to her in an attempt of reaction, seeing the sight of the pitiful man speaking and crying in front of her Sakura merely nod in response.
Seeing her nod towards him warm Kariya heart more than Sakura could ever know, just knowing that she is still capable of this is more enough reason for Kariya to go on his quest.
"Thank you, Sakura, Thank you..." Kariya started to thanking her for unknown reason. It took a moment for Kariya to calm himself, when he did he let go of Sakura and tell her to rest for tonight.
Seeing the girl walked to her room, Kariya was silent while watching the violet haired girl walked through the dark hall. Even when her figure is swallowed by the lack of light Kariya kept staring at where she was, it got to the point that Berserker felt the need to check on him.
"Master..." Berserker tried to called but...
"Let's go Berserker." Kariya suddenly called out to him first as Kariya walked on his own towards the basement and for the first time in this war a clear determination was heard in his voice.
Stunned, Berserker merely nod as he followed behind.
Kariya and Berserker proceed to go into a familiar stairs into the basement with Kariya forcing himself to not gagging from an unpleasant odor.
Once they arrived in the basement, they are greeted with Zouken standing, he clearly waiting for them in glee if his ugly smile were any indication.
A large mass of of worms were lumping under the pit of the basement, Kariya forced himself not to wretch at the sight of it.
Byakuya almost non existence presence was standing beside Zouken.
Zouken sighed loudly with a smile before he greeted Kariya, ignoring Berserker entirely.
"Ah, my son, you have returned." He said with a large smile and an open arms, Kariya felt like vomiting from hearing his slick voice.
Thankfully Zouken didn't approach him, after all if he did Kariya wasn't sure if he can hold his stomach.
Smiling, Zouken called out to Kariya.
"I believe you had something for me." Zouken patiently said with a smile.
Kariya merely clicked his tongue in return, of course he bring that up first, Kariya thought before gesturing to Berserker. He never get his eyes away from Zouken, better be safe than sorry.
"Berserker, give it to him." Kariya ordered Berserker.
Nodding, Berserker move forward bringing the bag he carried in front of Zouken.
Byakuya immediately went to open the bag. He was greeted with the sight of a supernatural beauty of a homonoculus.
For Zouken, the appearance of Irisveil is a sight for his sore memories.
There were once a time when he was a young man after all.
A time when he and Justicia Von Einzbern were once a close friend and perhaps more, unfortunately for them, as a magi their goal was more important than their feelings and thus whatever they have will never become a reality.
Because in order to reach the root Justicia decided to sacrifice herself for his and Nagato sake, only for her sacrifice were ruined due to the action of an outsider.
Ever since Zouken were waiting until the day their dream to reach the root were accomplished, and met with disappointment after disappointment every decade, forcing himself to stay alive until he saw their dream come to fruition.
Unexpectedly he might actually saw it this time. A bit ironic it was his disappointing son who might have granted his wish, but hey a beggar can't be a chooser, Zouken thought to himself.
Looking at the familiar sight of Irisveil Von Einzbern again, Zouken snort in disdain.
A mere replica of the real person that was Zouken opinion of the vessel, well at least it served its purpose.
A smile return to Zouken face as he then praised Kariya.
"Excellent." He said before lifting his hand. Byakuya quickly step aside, as if he know what was going to happen.
As if on cue, the worms coming out of the pit in the basement and turned into a flying insect.
The insect then gather and swarm towards the bag, like a storm made of pest they were flying around the bag in a clump like state before dispersing.
Once they dispersed, the bag containing the vessel had also missing. Kariya and Berserker didn't bother to flinch to what they've seen. Zouken on the other hand had started to talk again, with bad toothy grin he turned toward Kariya.
"Congratulation Kariya, all of your wish will be granted tonight!" He said exaggerated.
"Find your path into the depth of the mount Enzou and under the Ryuudou temple, there you will found a cavern, inside it is where you will found the Grail." Excitement can be felt from his voice.
"Now go! Fight and kill! Win the Holy grail! Vanquished any that block your way and fulfill your promise to me!" Zouken ended it with a laugh. Seeing Zouken laugh in excitement bring a shudder to Byakuya.
It took Zouken a while to regain his composure, when he did he finally realized that both Berserker and Kariya had yet to left the basement.
"Hm? You're still here?" Zouken was confused but he didn't care about them.
"Well, you can leave now." He ordered Kariya and Berserker, but they didn't move at all, this annoyed Zouken.
"I said, you can leave now." He finally said it with an edge in his voice, hearing the edge Berserker waited for Kariya command.
"We're not done yet." Kariya replied making Zouken raised an eyebrow at his casual tone.
Kariya then telepathically told Berserker to give the thing they prepared to Zouken. Nodding, Berserker then throw something to Zouken direction, it was a sealed parchment.
The parchment hit the ground and rolled in front of Zouken, seeing this Zouken glared at Byakuya. Panicked, the man quickly picked up the parchment, open it, and read it, once he read it Byakuya was surprised at the content of the parchment.
"Well, what is it?" Zouken inquired.
Trembling, Byakuya can't help but glancing towards Zouken. Noticing Byakuya state, Zouken immediately take away the parchment to read it to himself.
"Give it to me!" Taking the parchment from Byakuya hands, in his haste he didn't notice Kariya smile.
His plan had just begun.