It was supposed to be a new building for new jobs.
Made so that those who couldn't find work, would be able to once construction on the newest building was complete. Thus allowing the economy to grow just a bit while curbing the growth of homeless so they may afford to pay their on was.
On the ground below, covered in broken steel, those who had been around the building found their lives cut short. Ending when large lobs of metal fell on them as the entire construction sight fell apart. Dirt and dust kicking up in the air upon impact with those close but not near it, wisely running away upon the collapse.
"..." In the center of it all, with an advanced blade pulled out in their hands, a young girl that couldn't look older than sixteen could be seen.
With cold empty eyes that practically screamed she didn't care for what she caused.
Her Master stated to get the attention of the other Servants. She did just that exactly. The destruction of an entire building should cause the Servants around to notice the disaster she created. Once they come, she'll kill them where they stood. Ensuring victory for herself.
All she had to do was simply wait for them to arrive patiently.
Running quickly, ignoring the people she bumped into, Irisviel breathed heavily. In her hand, desperately trying to get it to work is a military grade walkie talkie. Given to her by her husband in case she needed to use it for communication.
"Come on! Work! How do you work!?" Shame she might have tuned out some of his lessons when he taught her about using modern day technology. While Irisviel might not be averse to technology like most mages in the modern day, who'd scoff at using such things, even she didn't see the point in learning how to use every bit of tech. Well, now she is regretting it.
More so when she saw a giant plume of dust rise up followed by a loud noise of an entire building falling apart. All which felt too coincidental after Rider left her. But who knows, maybe it wasn't Rider, perhaps it was another Servant. Another Master.
"Vfff - viel. Irisviel, are you there?" It was then the walkie talkie came to life, Irisviel yelping at that as she came to a full stop, nearly dropping the device as it was tossed between her hands.
"Ah-ummm." Gripping it as best she could, Irisviel managed to get a hold of it before calming herself. "Mmm." She then looked at it, hearing her husband's voice before remembering how it worked. "T-This button, right?"
Pushing down on something, Irisviel spoke into it. "Um…can you hear me?"
"I can hear you just fine." Irisviel breathed out in relief. Though that went away when she recalled the very reason she tried getting in contact with him. Gulping, Irisviel looked around, the people transfixed with the giant plume of dust to pay any real mind to her.
Holding the walkie talkie close to her, Irisviel whispered, "Kiritsugu. D-did you see…"
"An entire construction site collapsing, I did." So he already knew. Irisviel didn't know if that was for the better or worse. "I also know Rider was the one to cause it." Along with knowing the cause of it, to Irisviel's worries.
"S-She did this?" Irisviel really did hope it wasn't Rider. But if Kiritsugu was confirming it, well…
"She just told me through the link." Despite sounding emotionless, Irisviel could hear a slight irritation in Kiritsugu's tone. As if he didn't expect this, which Irisviel imagined he didn't. "Damn it, Irisviel, what happened?"
"I-I don't know." Irisviel admitted. "One minute we landed like you told us. I then went walking around, but-" A twinge of hurt could be seen in the homunculus eyes. "-she apparently left at some point." She didn't even realize it.
On her end, Kiritsugu said nothing.
Not that Irisviel could blame him, considering what just happened. Rider only just arrived and already she caused a scene. It wasn't even dark yet, the usual preferred time for the fights to begin. However, Irisviel knew her husband well. As such, she knew her beloved was already thinking of a plan.
"Alright,' One that he would share. "For now, we will proceed on. Even if unexpected, Rider's spectacle will cause Masters to investigate, sending their Servants in. We can work with that."
If anything, just as Kiritsugu told Rider before, her unsubtle display will put all the focus on her. "Get to the site as fast as you can, Maya and I will follow soon after. We'll set up and make it seem this was our intention all along. Maya and I can then see if we can get the drop on the enemy Masters who may come."
"Right." As expected of her husband. Already he was turning an unpredicted event into a boon. As unforeseen as Rider's actions were, this could still be salvaged. "I'll be there as soon as I can."
"Good." Kiritsugu replied. Though before he hung up, he said one last word. "...stay safe." The line was cut.
"Hehe." Irisviel smiled. "You never were good with emotions." More so when the Holy Grail War began. Hopefully, by the time this all ends, Kiritsugu can smile again once all is done. With Illya by his side.
Still, that was for later. Now, Irisviel needed to act. She couldn't let Kiritsugu down, knowing he worked too hard for this. Running off, Irisviel hoped she would make it in time before any of the other Masters or even Servants arrived at the demolished construction site. She'd also like words with Rider, just to see why she did what she did. Not out of anger, but out of curiosity on her reasoning.
Irisviel just hoped it was a reason she could understand.
As expected, Rider's actions didn't go unnoticed. Countless people saw an entire building that was under construction fall down, with a good chance that people might have died. A few even started to walk towards the site out of foolishness or some attempt to see if anybody needed help.
"Looks like the cops got this covered. Or…the ones under the Church's guidance." Standing on a rooftop,doing his best to stay behind a billboard, Waver Velvet looked at the cops telling people to go away. But if one looked close enough, they'd see that the cops had an additional wear to their uniforms.
A small cross, the symbol of the church.
"You say these people work for the church, and not this station where they come from?" Next to Waver, also hidden in the shadow of the billboard, his Servant spoke.
"Um, yeah." Waver responded to him while keeping an eye out. "The Church has agents everywhere to deal with the concealment of magecraft. With the help of the Overseer, they make up excuses and reasons for the public to buy."
"I see. Interesting." So these men and women still worked with this respective police station, but were in truth hidden agents in plain sight to limit the amount of potential witnesses. Clever. Very clever. "Does this mean soon we will be allowed entry?"
"What? No!" Exasperated, Waver couldn't believe his Servant made it sound like they needed permission to go through the police blockade to fight. "If anything, we just go past them whenever we feel like it. Ugh." This wasn't the first time Waver felt frustrated.
Summon a hero of legend. Gain a powerful familiar. A Servant that can do the fighting for you against the others.
None of which mentioned how many questions said Servant would ask.
'I mean, I guess I can't blame him.' Waver thought while rubbing his forehead. 'If I were someone from the past, I would want to know what's changed since my time.' Shame it got really annoying answering questions after the man asked his seventh one in a row.
Still, any answers will have to be put on pause for the moment.
"Are…there any Servants over there?" asked Waver, only to get a vague expression from the man before it dawned on him what Waver was talking about.
"Oh! You mean those like me?"
"Yes!"
"Sorry. Sorry." The man adjusted his cape a little before chuckling. "I'm still trying to get used to the fact that we apparent heroes as you call us are now being referred to as Servants." His expression then faltered a little. "Which makes no sense by the way. I was never a servant in life."
"It's just a title." Grunting, Waver pointed at the construction site. "Look. Do you just sense anybody over there?"
"..-"
"And no. Not the normal people."
"Right. Right." Chuckling, the man then stepped out from the shadow of the billboard.
Messy blonde hair. A scar like someone cut him across his left eye. Simple ordinary but reliable blue armor with a flowing ripped up red cape. With two scabbards that held his blades when a fight was needed.
Even if Waver's Servant could be, to be frank, annoying, it made Waver feel a bit giddy that he called on the strongest Servant of them all.
Saber!
'Sure he looks a little…plain' Waver gave a rather (unfair) judgmental look at how simple the man was, expecting a more extravagant appearance. 'But he's still a Servant. And I bet he could locate the Servant that caused this and we can win!'
"Hm." Saber then narrowed his eyes, nodding. "I sense magical energy alright."
"Really."
"Yep." Saber grinned. "Why, it's practically right next to me."
"..." Next to him. But the only source with energy next to him was… "That's me." Waver deadpanned.
"Oh. Whoopsie." Waver just slapped his own face while moaning. "Anyway, I'll just be going now."
"Wait, wha-" Before Waver could say anything in response, his Servant then turned into spirit form and vanished. "Dang it, Saber!" Slouching, Waver could only mutter how things got like this. "..." He also wondered how he was going to get down from the rooftop.
"It appears the first battle is about to commence." In the Church, Kirei spoke into an apparatus that took the form of a vintage speaker. Only instead of playing music, it allowed communication with others. In this case, communication with his former teacher who resided in his second workshop.
"Indeed, Kirei. It seems the first move has been made. Even if it was more indiscreet than expected."
"My father is already authorizing the use of minor bounded fields in the surrounding area, and closing it off to civilians." As expected of his father, who once oversaw the Third Holy Grail War. He held experience in what to do. "This will ensure no prying eyes spot us. Though you may not see my father for a small while."
"I suppose I can't blame him. Rise must have already been busy with my situation, never mind an entire building." While subtly, Kirei heard Tokiomi grunt. "Honestly, just what was this Master thinking in doing this?"
"They must be impatient, is my guess." Kirei responded. He could be wrong, but the destruction of an entire construction site without even placing a bounded field may say otherwise.
It's been a few hours since Tokiomi parted ways with him and his father with his Servant. Before this unknown Servant struck. Tokiomi already told the two he would contact them once he properly set up his new workshop in working conditions. Though considering what just happened, Tokiomi's schedule would have to change. "I assume we will make our move?"
"No." Came a stern response. "Unfortunately, Archer left some time ago."
"Oh?"
To clarify, Tokiomi said, "She told me that she needed time for herself and her…other-half." Kirei had no idea what that meant, and neither did Tokiomi, explaining, "I don't know the full details of what she's referring to either. She didn't explain. Only stating that she'll return after some time." This time, Tokiomi didn't even bother hiding the bitterness in his tone.
'I suppose I can't blame him.' Here Tokiomi called upon a powerful Servant, one that should have allowed him the chance of victory. Instead, all Tokiomi received was scorn from his Servant and insubordination. "In that case, shall I send my own Servant."
"Are you certain about that?" Tokiomi questioned. Stating, "Is she not but a simple woman? Ignoring these Noble Phantasms she claims, can she even fight considering her position?"
Ah, her position. Kirei understood Tokiomi's concerns.
Lancer, despite holding a valuable item that the Church and Mages would desire, held little to no combat ability. From what stats Kirei saw, none of them went above C aside from her mana. That wasn't even mentioning what she did in life.
'It makes one question how she even became a Servant.' Kirei thought for a moment, before responding back to his teacher. "True. Her parameters aren't the best. However, she told me that she desired to see the other Heroic Spirits and would stay safe."
A humm could be heard on Tokiomi's end, before he relented. "...as long as she stays safe, I suppose there isn't any harm in her observing." Gather information on the other Servants to learn what they could do. Might be beneficial.
"She also explained that even if she was caught, she has a method to escape somehow."
"Somehow? Did she not tell you?"
"She says she'd rather keep it a secret."
Another hum from Tokiomi. "...understood."
Kirei said nothing, though he expected his Master was a bit annoyed by what he said. First his own Servant disobeyed him, while Kirei's himself, while obedient, didn't bother revealing her own Noble Phantasms. Which Kirei for some reason couldn't 'read' through their contract for some reason. All in all, for Tokiomi, a man who prided himself in knowing things, not knowing what the Servants affiliated with him could do must be grating.
"I'll keep you informed of anything that happens." Closing his eyes, Kirei then saw through Lancer's eyes. A gift masters could utilize if allowed by their Servants, which Lancer accepted.
Seeing his Servant making way to the demolished construction.
"I'm sure something of interest will pop up."
"I must say, magecraft is quite impressive." Walking into the rather empty area, Saber couldn't help but notice a lack of people. "Interesting." This must be what his Master called a boundary field, right? Or a bounded field? Ugh, learning magic, or magecraft as his Master called it, wasn't his thing.
"That's not even mentioning this death match." Summoned to fight and kill others, that had been a surprise. Which to be honest, conflicted Saber.
Sure, he's killed people. He's been in a war, servant wise king's, tyrants (unfortunately), and worked alongside other soldiers before he was promoted. So it wasn't so much as killing someone that bothered him, but that he was apparently brought back from the dead to kill random strangers.
All for a supposed wish from the prize itself. A Holy Grail from what he learned.
'All at the cost of six lives.' Of six Servants, just like him, which may include their Masters. Along with possible civilians who ended up in the wrong place and time.
. "..." Again, Saber had no problem with killing others. But he wasn't exactly happy killing someone not for land or to win for the kingdom's honor, but instead for some wish he didn't even ask for.
Heck, one minute he died at last, the next he's suddenly here and told that a small boy that wasn't a grown man that he's his Master. Um, awkward much? The point is though, that Saber didn't feel honor in killing random people for some wish-making cup. Which is why he wanted to ask the others for their opinion.
Leaving his Master in hopes of finding this mystery Servant first and talking to them, since his Master might complain about that. Ask the Servant if perhaps they could find a compromise with each other and the other Servants. A way to not kill each other. Surely they must feel the same, along with the other Servants. Come up with some agreement where seven strangers from distant lands didn't have to kill one another for this unknown prize, one that Saber wondered was even worth it.
'I mean, it seems a bit much to kill others from something called the Holy Grail.' Saber heard about it in his life-time actually, and he was pretty sure the grail never needed someone to die to see it, let alone use it. Then again, he is in another world. So maybe…
Anyway, he was here.
Thanks to the bounded field placed around along with the officers that worked for the Church and the police station, the area was empty. Devoid of human lives.
"..." But not human corpses.
While there weren't many, Saber saw a huge lump of wood on top of someone, not something, with their hand sticking out from the pile. Red liquid around the affirmed limb.
There were dead people here, with an ominous feeling surrounding Saber.
Breathing sharply, he placed a hand on the handle of his blade. Ready for a fight on the chance the Servant here wasn't as cooperative as he hoped. Still he pressed on, walking forward as he saw the scope of the damage here.
The entire building under construction, collapsed atop itself. A mass pile of metal, wood, and whatever else on it now a huge pile in the center of where the building once stood. Now ruined, with lingering dust in the air, it was then Saber saw someone at the top of the makeshift hill.
"Hm?" While he couldn't see all the details, Saber knew instinctively that this being was a Servant. It just confused him that they were something so…different, from the clothing styles he knew. Not to mention they appeared so…pettie.
'How old are they?' He needed a closer look. Walking towards the Servant, Saber raised his hand in the air. Not wanting to scare them off or intimidate them. He just wanted to talk about a ceasefire. "Hello." He called out to them. "I am Saber of this war, and I-"
Whatever Saber had been about to say was interrupted. Not by other words though, but by action. As soon after he attempted a conversation, the Servant atop vanished.
"Die."
Then appeared in front of him, sword raised, swinging it down with the intent to kill him.
"Sweet Giga!' Saber yelped as he then took out his own blade and diverted the weapon aimed for his head. Only years of fighting (and running) of experience saved this new life of his to being cut short.
His enemy, a young girl with striking red eyes, looked at him in slight surprise. Surprised that she didn't kill him in one stroke.
She'll have to change that.
Less than a second after thinking this, a bright light surrounded the girl that momentarily blinded Saber. Soon after the light settled where Saber got a good look at his opponent's new look.
"Oh my." A jet black suit that was skin-tight with bright pink highlights and a mask covering with a glass visor. With her blade already aimed at him and ready for another blow.
….times like this, he missed being in the army.
"Die." Rider repeated as she struck.
Roze is already going for the kill, yeesh. She's not gonna hold back. Poor Saber, especially since he just wanted to talk. Fat chance of that happening.