Basement, Einzbern Castle

Rhenish Massif

Rhineland-Palatinate

The Federal Republic of Germany de jure

Europe

The First of December, the Two Thousandth and Third Year of the Common Era

Illyasviel von Einzbern

The Einzbern Castle towers over the surrounding flatland plains, its expanse covering over several towns worth of land. For all it looks like a frozen wonderland of every child's dreams, it is as cold and empty as it looked. Trapped with ancient Magecraft in eternal, enduring winter, bereft of human kindness.

It was here that I was born, my parents lived and where I was betrayed. My Father, Kiritsugu who betrayed the Einzbern a decade ago, and forgot me for some savage orphan from the Eastern Isles.

At long last, my revenge is coming to fruition, since Kiritsugu is gone, I guess I will just have to take care of his brat.

I refuse to acknowledge that boy as my brother.

By drawing the strongest card with my limitless mana in Fuyuki. The victory the Einzberns have been seeking for over three centuries is within my grasp.

Even though, I may not live to see it...

"Commence the Servant Summoning Ritual." A cold voice devoid of any intonation echoed into the basement."

"Yes, Grandfather" I replied automatically.

I began the incantation, I noted from the corner of my eye, the faint smell of roses and the sight of a petal fluttering onto the circle.

Grandfather ignored it, so I followed suit.

I am being dipped in flaming hot tar. Regardless, I continue to channel my Od into the specially prepared ritual circle inlaid with alchemically perfected elemental mercury as I was trained to do.

Let silver and steel be the essence.

Let stone and the archduke of contracts be the foundation.

Let my model Justeaze be the Ancestor

Let rise a wall against the wind that shall fall.

Let the four cardinal gates close.

Let the three-forked road from the crown reaching unto the Kingdom rotate.

Let it be declared now; your flesh shall serve under me, and my fate shall be with your sword.

Submit to the beckoning of the Holy Grail.

Answer, if you would submit to this will and this truth.

An oath shall be sworn here.

I shall attain all virtues of all of Heaven; I shall have dominion over all evils of all of Hell.

Yet you shall serve with your eyes clouded by chaos. For you would be one caged in madness.

I shall wield your chains.

A freezing gust spread to all four corners of the room, as the room began to fill with the scent of roses and frost.

The Fifth Fuyuki Holy Grail War would never be the same again.

Throne of Heroes, Outside of The World

Outside of Time

Eugeo

NND7-6361

I saw a light.

It was calling to me.

"...my fate with your sword." A dull whisper from far far away called to me.

My sword?

Where is my sword?

"...caged in madness"

Madness, huh?

I turned my blade on the two I held dear to my heart.

If not madness, then what else could it be?

"...Protector of the Holy Balance!"

Someone who needs protection, huh?

I can't even protect myself.

I felt someone reaching for me. They were so very young.

Only nineteen, that's how young I was when I died...

...and lonely.

Someone who gave love and was betrayed.

Above it all was the scent of a rose desperately trying to grow, even when frozen by the harshest chill of Winter.

Ah, now I remember, my name is Eugeo, the youngest third son of Orick, a barley farmer from Rulid Village.

Alice!

"Where are you?" I asked the void, blacker than night.

I felt a warmth in my heart and my hand, I looked down.

"You were with me all this time" I whispered to her.

Very well, my mission is accomplished, I have a feeling he, my best friend, certainly completed his mission as well.

Illya

"Servant Berserker has answered your summons." A boyish voice echoed throughout the room.

"But, you my master", he inclined his head towards me.

"...can call me Eugeo", he beamed, the warmth in his voice made me think that perhaps the chill of this cold, empty castle hadn't quite sunk into my bones yet.

"You are not Heracles." My Grandfather said shocked.

But we had used a catalyst!

Why had our efforts over this painfully cold decade resulted in this failure?

"Ah, I believe it was this." He replied nonchalantly as he turned the catalyst we used, a pillar from one of Heracles' most ancient temples. To reveal a surprisingly intact rose caked in frost.

"It resonated with my sword you see." He drew his sword from a white leather scabbard on his back.

WLSS703

The Blue Rose Sword. The name resonated throughout my mind along with an odd series of letters and numbers. Was that his Noble Phantasm?

It looked rather plain with two edges in a standard European-style sword. The only thing that stood out was the incredibly detailed motif of a rose upon the cross-guard, it looked like its petals could fall at any moment.

But something was telling me that this was something more.

"Very well, Illyasviel, proceed to the Courtyard for a demonstration of your Berserker Servant" Grandfather ordered in a tone that brooked no dissent.

"Yes, Grandfather" I replied, keeping my frown off my face.

My Berserker, Eugeo, followed suit interposing himself between us as if trying to protect me from his words.

My first full-length work!

Constructive criticism is appreciated. Discussion is also good.

The lack of Eugeo fics anywhere despite being Kirito's Best Friend and a total bro was very disappointing. Given that Alicisation is their bromance, I felt like making something after my annual rewatch.

My sign of appreciation for SAO and FSN is one of the first anime that I watched. The same goes for the VN and LN respectively.

Kudos to YuutsuRingoBeta and Moczo, the authors of SaberFes and Chaos Theory respectively for the initial inspiration and Illya characterisation.

Changelog:
2023-11-05: The first version is posted simultaneously to SB, SV, QQ, AO3 and FFN.
2023-11-11: The first section is modified to be consistent with other versions.