The False Moon-Cell Holy Grail War had begun, and tensions were already high among the participating Masters. As if sensing the weight of the situation, four of those very Masters found themselves in the same room, each aware of the others' presence but not yet committed to forming alliances.
Nami, the orange-haired teenager, stood by a window, gazing outside while absentmindedly twirling a lock of her hair. Her eyes held a determination that belied her youthful appearance. She was accompanied by her Servant, Robin Hood, the Archer-class Servant, who watched her with a mixture of amusement and concern.
Owain Leomachus Gorgonsor, the nearly 40-year-old Mage with the appearance of a man in his twenties, stood at the far end of the room, his face a mask of polite detachment. Artoria Pendragon Alter, his Lancer-class Servant, stood at his side, clad in dark armor, her imposing presence filling the room.
Pedro Manuel Garza, the 23-year-old man with wavy black hair and brown eyes, leaned against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest. He exchanged glances with his Rider-class Servant, Bernal Díaz del Castillo, who stood tall and proud, clad in his conquistador armor.
Finally, there was Morelo Vascuit, the 18-year-old Belgian who hid his true intentions behind a veil of self-assurance. He stood near the center of the room, his gaze flickering between the other Masters. His Servant, the Ancient God Dyeus Phter, watched him silently, his eyes filled with wisdom and experience.
"Alright then, suppose I'll ask it: why should we all team-up together? Why should I join in with you lot rather than with the Red Faction? Why should any of us?" Morelo asked, his voice steady despite his racing thoughts.
Owain was the first to speak up.
"I believe we share a common goal, nay, a priority : to survive this war. Beyond that, if we should avoid elimination, we may even indulge in dreams of securing the Holy Grail. Forming this proposed alliance would increase our chances of survival, and success if we should endure the other Factions. Our options for team-members grows shorter by the second, and if we wait too long, we will be forced to make friends with those of contradicting views. I, for one, have no such interest in such an outcome. And if you are worthy of your family lineage, Vascuit, I would urge you to consider that."
Nami stepped away from the window, her eyes bright with determination.
"I agree," she said, glancing at Robin Hood. "But we need to trust each other. We need to share our true intentions. Prove we can work together, before we start taking actions that could hurt our chances at getting through this war in one piece."
Morelo hesitated, but Pedro interjected.
"I'm here to protect my family's legacy and fulfill my grandmother's wishes," he said, looking at Bernal, who nodded in agreement. "Who else here has a noble goal? Now is the time to speak up, and prove you are among good company!"
Owain's gaze darkened as he shared his own goal. "I wish to save humanity, at any cost, even if it requires drastic measures," he stated, his voice firm and resolute. "If there is a kind way to do it, I would pursue it. As things stand though, no compromise is too great, so long as the results can speak for themselves."
Nami's face softened as she revealed her wish.
"I want to help my teacher. He's struggling, and I want to replace him in this war. I want to do well by him, like he's done for me."
Morelo, seeing that the others had been sincere, decided to divulge his own wish – at least partially. "I'm here to restore my family," he said, hoping the half-truth would conceal his true intentions. "If allying with you lot will allow for just that, then so be it."
As the four Masters looked at one another, a sense of camaraderie began to form. They realized that, despite their differences, they shared a common goal: to win the Holy Grail War and make their dreams come true.
And so, the Blue Faction was born – a team forged from desperation and hope. They knew the path ahead would be fraught with danger, but together, they believed they had a fighting chance. United by their dreams and fears, the Masters and their Servants prepared to face the battles that lay ahead, knowing that their alliance would be tested in the fires of the Holy Grail War.
The Blue Faction spent their 24-hour pre-war preparations readying themselves as best as they could in their temporary dwellings within the Digital Sea. Each member of the faction was aware of the importance of understanding their teammates' strengths and weaknesses, but they were also cautious about revealing too much.
Nami, conscious of her inexperience in Magecraft compared to her peers, spent her time talking with Owain, hoping to glean knowledge from the older mage. She found his demeanor to be surprisingly warm despite the sourness of his general mood, the results of his unceasing visions born of his Magic Crest.
"I specialize in illusion magic," Nami said with a smile. "It's what I'm best at."
Owain nodded, impressed. "That could be very useful in battle. My own Magecraft focuses on bringing back the past, which could serve as a good counterbalance to your illusions."
Meanwhile, Pedro and Morelo were discussing their Magecraft abilities, with Pedro explaining his expertise in bounded fields. Morelo, still keeping up his act as a high-class elitist mage, spoke of his Sight Magic with an air of arrogance. "With my enhanced vision, I can easily keep track of our enemies," he boasted.
Pedro raised an eyebrow but nodded in agreement.
"That's a valuable skill. Combined with my bounded fields, we can set up traps and monitor our enemies effectively."
As the Masters conversed, their respective Servants were also sizing each other up. Robin Hood, the mysterious Archer-class Servant, stayed close to Nami, careful not to reveal his true identity. He watched the other Servants with a sharp eye, noting their strengths and potential weaknesses.
Artoria Pendragon Alter, the powerful Lancer, exchanged a few words with Bernal Díaz del Castillo, the experienced Rider. The two warriors spoke of their pasts and their motivations for participating in the war, with Artoria Alter expressing her desire to restore her lost kingdom, and Bernal wishing to ensure the safety and future of his Master.
Dyeus Phter, the Ancient God, observed the interactions with a knowing smile. He recognized the potential for great power in their alliance, as well as the inevitable conflicts that would arise from their differing goals.
As the hours passed, the Blue Faction began to strategize, using the information they had shared with each other. They discussed the strengths and weaknesses of their opponents and devised tactics that would take advantage of their combined abilities. Illusions, Sight Magic, and bounded fields were all incorporated into their plans, as well as the unique skills of their Servants.
Their preparations continued late into the night, with each member of the Blue Faction growing more confident in their alliance. Although they all knew that the upcoming battles would test their bonds and their individual resolve, they were united in their desire to win the Holy Grail War and make their dreams come true.
However, even as they planned and strategized, Nami and Morelo both harbored secrets, concealing Robin Hood's identity and Morelo's true wish. What results would come of this, only time will tell.
As the 24-hour pre-war preparation phase drew to a close, the Blue Faction stood on the precipice of a great challenge, the threads of trust and deception weaving together to form the foundation of their alliance.