Chapter 1: Summoning a New Partner-in-Crime
March 15
Work can be a bitch of a thing. Sometimes it can be simple, and sometimes it can be so demanding that it makes the barrel of a pistol look friendly; and that could not be more apparent than in the Arizona desert as a man dressed a gray shirt, jeans, and black fingerless gloves etched into the ground of the earth. His name was Elric. His last name was irrelevant, especially to himself; depending on the situation it would be many different ones. He had grey eyes (though, if you can believe it, some claim to have seen them crimson like a pair of blood moons) and light colored hair.
On that day he was performing a summoning, though his expression conveyed discomfort at the task.
This is stupid was all that Elric could think about the situation at hand as he created the magic circle around the Round Table shard in its elegant ebony case. Thinking of the many reasons why he should have refused and avoided this as a whole. Anything from Clock Tower always brought him misery and he doubted this would be any different.
If Sisigou had not been the one to ask to perform this summoning as a favor, Elric would never have agreed. Yet it felt wrong all the same to him. Even with a catalyst, summonings could be like one of those Japanese gotcha games: the result is unpredictable. On top of the fact it would be a Saber he was summoning in that Arizonan desert so he could only expect a righteous type. The only good side to this was that someone already summoned the king who once led that British circus.
Once he was finished Elric backed away from the summoning circle he had etched into the desert dirt and pulled out a golden plated lighter with occult symbols such as a Leviathan Cross and Squared Circle etched onto the exterior then lit a cigarette.
He pondered quitting.
Thought of destroying what he created and the Round Table Shard and leaving Arizona for a while, or just tell his old friend to find someone else for this.
Ultimately he discarded the cigarette and stretched out his hand and recited the incantation.
"Silver and steel, the essence. Stone and the archduke of contracts, the foundation. Red, the color I pay tribute to." The markings begin to glow, emitting a crimson light from the ground. "I hereby propose. Swear your fealty to me, and my life shall be your sword. If you abide by the Grail's summons and follow the laws, then heed my call!" The light of red stretched out into a beam, becoming more intense as he continued, Elric could almost feel a force of life pulsating within pushing back. But the mage would not relent. "From the Seventh Heaven, wielding Three Words of Power, come forth from the ring of control, Guardian of the Heavenly Scales!"
Finally the light ceased with a thunderous blast. Momentarily breaking both Elric's focus—glimpsing a kneeling figure among the scant smoke, kneeling initially as they approached—seeing a figure of imposing armor with a horned helmet. The bulky armor having only red decorations and markings to distinguish it from the typical steel color.
Various clank sounds could be heard as the knight rose to its feet.
"The hell…?"
The helmet began to remove itself, piece by piece, and melded with the armor. The mechanisms were a little more advanced than one would expect of a knight from the dark ages. A pair of green eyes stared back at them while a long blond ponytail unfurrowing itself once the helmet was completely removed and Elric could see the face of a young woman. Albeit one which he barely recognized as a woman for half a second.
The actual fuck, was all Elric could think as he watched the figure rise and the helmet removed itself piece by piece.
"I am Mordred, the one and true heir of Arthur Pendragon." The servant declared confidently, holding her sword with the tip stabbing into the ground, then with a smirk "So I ask of you. Are you my master?"
Elric reluctantly answered "...Yes. Elric." Predominantly confused by the development but hiding his perplexity behind the usual mask of apathy as he watched her armor vanish in a red light.
"Problem?"
"You're Mordred?"
"Yes."
"Son of Arthur Pendragon."
"Yes."
"...heh." then Elric let out a chuckle.
Then Mordred became irritated. "Something funny?"
"It's just when I imagine you I pictured someone radiating malevolence and not all androgynous."
"..."
"I expected you to look a little more masculine, is what I'm saying."
At that the knight's demeanor became worse and Mordred's eyes glew crimson and Clarent was raised with its point a hair's breadth from impaling his throat.
"Do not say that again."
"What?"
Her murderous growl gave Elric a chill, but like most things he managed to hide his feelings.
"Refer to me in that way again, and I will not be able to restrain myself."
The murderous glint in her eyes incentivised Elric to consider his next words carefully.
Elric raised his arms in a passive gesture, fingers spread wide, and said "...Okay, got it, not really relevant, anyway. Mind putting the sword down."
"Very well," Mordred twisted her face in anger but managed to restore her prior mood. Collecting a deep breath, she muttered with a sulky expression "I forgive you. And do not ever raise the subject again. Remember that."
She lowered her weapon.
"Welcome, Mordred, to Arizona."
Examining her surroundings after lowering her sword. Motioning around, gazing at the Arizonan desert, Mordred noticed the altar—specifically the splinter of wood in the ebony case—and could feel a sense of nostalgia and bitterness. Then points her sword towards it and asked "The heck is this?"
"It's a piece of the round table. The one used by the same collection of knights you belonged to."
Upon hearing that Mordred promptly smites the wooden shard with Clarent.
The actual hell is wrong with her?
"Infuriating!" she barked. "To think I was summoned by this thing." Rending the Round Table shard to nothing. Expressing cold and utter hatred.
Guess it touches a nerve...though given the Knight of Treachery's history that's a little understandable.
"I supposed using that to summon you wasn't ideal." Elric muttered, but accidentally saying so aloud.
"Don't take me for one of those Round Table invertebrates." Mordred barked, hoisting the sword on her shoulder before it vanished in a crimson light. Then she looked back to him, "I'm the King of Knights' one true and worthy heir."
"Uh...aren't you one who rebelled?"
Mordred looked back to what remained of the Round Table shard and explained "He never considered me more than a servant." More angrily as she said "So I showed him." Then snarled at the four pieces of wood "Look at what your reign's worth!" before stomping her heel down on them.
At that she garnered some sympathy as Elric's apathetic face briefly expressed some condolences.
This Pendragon sounds like a bigger prick than I thought.
Once she finished Mordred returned her attention to Elric "Now. Where are my enemies?"
"Enemies?" Elric repeated. "Oh. You mean the other servants."
"Obviously!"
"Yeeeaaahhh. Hate to burst your bubble there, but you don't need to fight the other servants to get the grail. Assuming that's what you're so jived about."
"Come again…?"
Stretching his arm out, directing her towards the nearby impala, Elric told her "I have quite the tale for you." Intentionally being as vague as possible. Mordred took the hint and allowed him to take charge for the moment. "But first I think we should make ourselves scarce. Pretty sure that summoning will attract some unnecessary attention."
Once she was inside the passenger seat, they bolted out. Disappearing from the scene before the first car appeared in the distance.
As he drove the impala, Elric told Mordred about the last grail war. How the grail was corrupt and one of the masters and their servant destroyed it. At that the Knight of Treachery seemed to understand but was more curious when her new master mentioned how the servant was another saber, and one whom she would be familiar with: Artoria Pendragon.
Mordred nearly gasped at that. It was nearly impossible for Elric to discern which emotion was more prevalent: the shock, confusion, or happiness. But for the briefest of moments, he could have sworn he saw the happiness grow more abundant in her expression before being lost amidst the mingling of emotions.
Despite her statement earlier, the mage could tell there was still some resemblance of familial bond between them on Mordred's end—or maybe she wanted there to be—but given the course their history took he wouldn't hold his breath for Artoria feeling the same.
This time he managed to keep his thoughts to himself. He liked seeing this side of his Saber and doubted it would persist for long.
Driving down the road they eventually reached a small abode outside the nearest city.
That night, Elric dreamed of a large-scale battle before the long point of a lance came into focus then the sharp pain; and it was all he could see in an endless cycle of battle and death.
Suddenly he heard the ring of a cell phone and then, as finally the pain from the lance waned, he was back in bed, far from the battlefield in the land of Morpheous' domain. Jolting up in a fright, gasping for air. Looking around, relieved to be back from that nightmare.
His cell phone continued to ring, buzzing on a dresser. Elric reached over and grabbed it, flipped the thing open and answered "Hello?"
"Elric. How'd the summoning go?"
Dio
"Just fine, Dioland." the magician responded. "Did it cause much of a problem in the media?"
"Not particularly. Aside from a few of the locals, no one has bothered to cause much commotion over the ordeal."
"Good. Good." Elric muttered into his phone. "So why are you calling?"
Dio told him "I have a job for you, of course."
"You could always send King Hassan."
"Yes, but I loved seeing your work."
Elric sighed. "Who and where?"
"I'll tell you once we're in town."
"Fine."
He hung up and put the cell phone in his pocket. Putting on a red hoodie and a black jacket over the hoodie as he left the guest room he found Mordred waiting in the kitchen eating some cereal. Her fifth bowl.
"Mordred, I have a job to do in town. You can either go or stay here."
Elric grabbed a small card from a small set he had on a shelf and put it in his jacket pocket.
Mordred looks at one of the cards he grabbed and saw the words written on it: Elric, Occultist and Magician, and Freelancer.
"You're a sell sword?"
The "magician" yawned before responding "...ugh, a little. I mostly do work related to magecraft." and began loading a mag into a Beretta with a compensator attached to the barrel. Holstering it beneath his left armpit. Then proceeded to insert two green shotgun shells into Boomstick, a sawed-off double-barreled shotgun with an ivory bird's head grip.
"Is there going to be a fight?"
"Probably."
"All right! I'm in."
"Fine, but first we need to get you some new clothes in town."
Looking down at her garbs, Mordred asked "What's wrong with this?"
"You'll stand out."
Driving into town, Mordred is led into a mall by Elric where they are greeted by a woman named Stella.
Looking at Mordred beside him, Stella asked "Who's this?" and a wicked smile crept onto her lips as she looked back at Elric.
Oh boy.
"Stella...this is, uh, a friend of mine. Erica." he explained, much to Mordred's annoyance. He told her that was what he would use to explain her presence while they were in Tucson, but it still infuriated her. "She's just arrived in town and needs some new clothes."
"Really? A "friend?"
"Don't push it."
"I'm kidding, I'm kidding." Stella chuckled. "Give me one moment and I'll ready a changing room."
Once she was gone Mordred elbowed him in the arm.
"Hey, cool it." Elric whispered.
"You'll pay for this."
"Yeah, yeah…I'm practically shaking in my boots."
Mordred holds her tongue before she can say more Stella returned to tell them "All ready."
Stella grabbed Mordred by the arm and led her away, leaving Elric to wait for the moment he was called back inside.
Pulling open the curtains, Mordred emerged wearing a tube top, a crimson leather jacket and the shortest of shorts Elric could recall ever seeing.
Stella was positively giddy, exclaiming "How adorable," as she nudged on the magician's arm "Don't you think so, Elric?"
Mordred looked to her Master to hear him respond, not that she cared. She could practically hear the derision in her head.
"...looks good."
"Oh-ho. That's a first." Stella exclaimed. "Elric usually just gives an indifferent grunt." Causing Mordred to look at her master inquisitively. Watching as he walked away. "Then again, you're the first person I've seen him hang around."
"Really?"
"Yep. Normally he avoids being around people."
After a moment of hesitation, Mordred thanked Stella before following after her master. Joining Elric at his side as he walked further into town, reaching a small restaurant to greet a man with short blond hair with a nod.
"Elric."
Mordred asked "Who's this?"
Upon seeing Mordred, Dio was intrigued instantly. Then looked at Elric with a smirk as he sarcastically asked "You haven't mentioned me?"
"Mordred, this is Dio Dioland." Elric introduced him. "A recurring client of mine, unfortunately."
"Oh, now that's just hurtful, Elric. After all we've been through…"
"Yeah, yeah. I'm playing the small violin for ya."
"Never mind, come join me. I have everything for you ready."
Elric and Mordred joined him at the table. They were treated to a beverage while Dio pulled out a small file, which he handed to Elric.
While her master's attention was directed towards the files, Dio's shifted directly to Mordred.
"So you're Mordred." he said. Intrigued by this. "The Knight of Treachery." Not even trying to hide the fact of it. "I must say I imagine you would be...taller."
It was sarcastic and reeked of an attempt and abasement, which Mordred despised.
"And I imagined you'd be more imposing."
Restraining herself that one time from summoning Clarent.
Irritated, Elric said with his eyes intensely focused on the file "Mordred, Dio; play nice."
Bickering would just be another sore on his day. Mordred began arguing with him but he ignored her and Dio when he joined-in on arguing his point.
Elric had little tolerance for any of it. Choosing to focus on the job ahead.
The file showed that the targets were homunculi. A small army of them that had escaped and murdered their makers in the process. A story Elric would occasionally hear more commonly than he did not.
Dio noticed and asked "What do you think?"
"Seems manageable." Elric responded. "But...why not just send Ziusudra to deal with this?"
"I need him for another task, and the family wants this resolved so I thought of you."
Closing the file, Elric muttered "I see." Apathetic, once more, to the whole ordeal presented to him. "We'll do it."
Mordred cocked her head at Elric and asked, "We will?" as he stood up and beckoned her to follow him. She did so reluctantly. Looking at Dioland one last time with disdain before rising from her chair as well.
Catching up with him, Mordred asked Elric "Where to now?"
"A abandoned factory." Elric handed her the file to read while pulling out the keys to his car.
Mordred was intrigued by the task and realized quickly the kind of work her new master performed.
"You hunt homunculi?"
Elric told her "Sometimes." A little more displeased than before. Then with a sigh "I don't enjoy it...but that's my job from time-to-time.
Mordred joined Elric in a silent ride for some time. Until she could bear it no longer. She was a homunculus but that did not factor into the matter much—she just could not see why he would bother wasting his time and presumably whatever talents he may have.
To Elric it was just a job and would prefer to just see it that way.
They arrived at an abandoned factory, a derelict forsaken years before and damned to destruction within a year—or so Elric told Mordred as he explained how it used to be a welding factory with some familiarity in his tone, as if he had some personal knowledge about the matter.
Summoning Clarent as they approached, Mordred asked "So why'd they come here?"
"Their maker used to hide out here with them." Elric told her. "They probably thought they'd be safe here."
Mordred scoff at their stupidity while her master kicked in the door. Entering the darkened building with little regard for a plan or worry of ambushes.
Wearily, Elric said in a mocking tone "Knock-knock." as he looked around. Soon the pair were confronted by a cadre of angry men holding pipes and other metal objects for weapons.
Her sword still resting on her shoulder told Elric "I think you angered them."
"Yeah, yeah." Elric replied with a light coming to his hand, much to Mordred's surprise, summoning a ebony sword absent of a guard and with crimson runes etched into the long blade. "Like I give a shit."
A sword called Bleidd.
Smirking, Mordred muttered "Interesting…"
Looking at the homunculi, Elric's eyes began to glow red as he said "Hello boys." with an intimidating tone. "So...who's first?"
Bringing her sword down, Mordred had only one thought: I think I'm going to enjoy this master.
The homunculi charged with their improvised weapons. Aiming for his head, so Elric dodged and slashed the nape. Causing one enemy to lose his head, literally. Then Mordred charged, summoning her armor.
One attacked and she blocked then punched him across the face. Grabbing the homunculus by the hair and slamming the head into her knee.
The other homunculi staggered back, losing their confidence in response. Grinding their teeth in anger before one worked up the courage to yell "Kill them!" and they rediscovered their audacity and resumed the attack.
As they charged, one by one they were annihilated.
