Author's Note: Okay. As always, this one will likely be updated in the future. I actually want to add more but at the time did not no where to got with it. Point of this chapter is just to provide some lore information and give you a idea of where the plot is going.


Chapter 14: The Congregation

People sometimes think I'm being hyperbolic when I say this, but I believe it with all my heart; I have a lousy case of luck. Be it with my romantic and not-so romantic relationships, work, family, and a myriad of other shit that happens in my life.

God just seems to REALY love shitting in my dinner.

I don't know if I'm cursed or if it's a side effect of Emil's experiment, karma, or whatever. But man am I really sick of it.

April 6

To say the venture to Romania was as much full of surprises as it was cause for angst would be something of a overstatement to rival the modern perception of Cicero, but what he found waiting inside the building was more so for Elric.

Halted in his tracks, the freelancer was taken aback by the sight of the figure before him. It was Clitus Stark—the Judas Priest, the Blade of the Iscariots, a man of many names and lethal all-around.

Mentally, the sight of him caused Elric to be brought back to a mission in Europe where they clashed for hours before the Acolytes intervened.

"Well, well." The Iscariot greeted him. His tone dripped with faint animosity as much as it was with familiarity. "If it is not the heathen who always avoids my blade."

Seeing the man, both Luvia and Mordred were left perplexed—unfamiliar with the person who Elric seemed to know—while Kairi was not as surprised, but the expression of his visages was somewhat grim.

Looking at the figure, then back to Elric, Mordred asked her master "Do you know this person, Elric?"

"Yeah." Elric finally broke from his reticent shock to answer "This is Clitus Stark. He's part of a group called the Iscariots." Before making a little jab comment "A group of religious crazies who got kicked out of the church."

He was not interested in adding lubrication to the tense situation but at the same time Elric could not help but make a few comments to test his old rival, just a little.

Looking at the company Belmont arrived at the building with Clitus was not concerned with Kairi, but Luvia and Mordred were new faces to him.

Tilting his head, the Iscariot asked "Whom might these two blondes be?"

'Mordred, play along.'

Gesturing one of his fingers, Elric introduced them both to Stark with "Traveling companions." Tilting his own head while he popped one of his fingers—feeling tempted to reach for Knall or summon Bleidd—before making an apathetic comment "I don't know how it is for you, butI actually do not mind traveling with people."

"Now, is that not somewhat presumptuous?" a voice chimed in.

Clitus was soon joined by two more Iscariots—one a younger woman with shoulder-length black hair (similar to Rin's), green eyes behind a pair of glasses with a red frame which were missing at top of the frame; and the second an older man closer to Clitus' age. Both dressed similarly to Stark.

Elric took one look at the female Iscariot and had one thought—aside from how cute she looked—and that was how to use this to mess with his old rival.

"Who's this?" he asked. His voice was very dim and dry, not betraying true concern but gave hints of some other motivation "Wait, don't tell me—you finally found a girlfriend."

"Wha?" the woman gasped. Blushing from the insinuation. "Stark would-"

Clitus waved his arm in front of the woman. "Relax, Liliana." Assuring her "You'll have to get used to that—this half-breed enjoys toying with people. Like a child teasing his female classmates."

The third Iscariot chimed in "He is barely a man, so I suppose we should not expect much from the spawn of an abomination."

"Indeed, Marcus."

Elric continued to smirk. "Well, I couldn't think of any other reason a cute looking girl would be anywhere near you." Continuing to make verbal jabs at Clitus, though it did not sound malicious to Luvia or Mordred.

It was filled with less reproach. In fact, his tone almost felt like someone that was just teasing an old associate.

Though the comment of half-breed did cause some curious gazes cast at Elric by Luvia and Mordred. Even Gilgamesh and Enkidu, in their spirit forms, were a little intrigued by the comment. But they were quiet for the moment.

In the midst of the encounter a door suddenly opened and Trish emerged, seeming to ignore Clitus and his two associates as she stepped out and looked down one lane of the hall then down the opposite to spot Elric and his associates.

"There you are, Elric. I thought I heard your voice."

"Yeah." The freelancer aimed his finger to the Iscariots and asked "You mind telling me why the warrior priests are here?"

Trish walked out into the and grabbed one of his arms, telling him "They were invited by Richter, same as the others." as she pulled him into the room. Earning an irked expression from Luvia, who was looking at the redhead with a 'feeling bold still, are we' look in her visage as she and the others followed inside.

Mordred giving the Iscariots dirty looks every step of the way.

Breaking free from her hold, Elric told Trish "Okay. I don't need to be forced, and can walk on my own."

"I know how you can be when Clitus is involved."

Walking inside, Elric was greeted by a familiar voice. "Been a while, kid." Facing it to find an even more familiar face of a middle-aged man in the room, dressed in a business suit.

He was older than when they last saw each other. But the rough features were as much a dead give-away as the style of the man's brown hair and eyes.

"Uncle Richter."

It had been...roughly six or so years since they last saw each other, back when he dropped the bombshell of Elric's mother and early mortality—a very awkward moment for them both respectively. For varying reasons.

"You've gotten old."

"Look who's talking grey hair."

Both men ended laughing as they hugged.

Elric introduced Luvia and Mordred to him. Richter Belmont. His mother's brother. The one who told him the truth. The one who opened his eyes.

There was little time to catch up as the meeting was seconds away from beginning.

It wasn't just Iscariots. There was a whole host of groups involved. There were representatives for the Iscariots, the Church, the Abattoir, various magi families Richter was aligned with. More people than Elric had expected he would be seeing.

Each proxy seemed to be as anxious as Elric and Clitus.

The obliviousness drove both the freelancer and Iscariot crazy. Or irked them respectively. Neither enjoyed being in the dark—a sentiment which was plain on their faces—a strange similarity which Luvia, Mordred, and Liliana noticed as when they were not listening to Richter recount a recent venture in China.

"Where to begin…?"

"How 'bout the beginning?"

"Right, right. You see I was in China—a associate of mine claimed he had learned the Acolytes were up to something that he believed was interest me."

As he continued to explain the Belmont, pulled out a set of photos, handing one to each of the people in the room.

"While investigating I procured this parchment you see in the photo."

"These symbols…they're…"

"it get's worse, I'm afraid. While eavesdropping, I heard them mention a grail."

"The one destroyed in the Fifth Grail War?"

"No. A new one."

"How does this pertain to these Alagaddan symbols."

"Alagadda?" Luvia raised a brow at the mention of it. Recalling Gilgamesh mentioning it a number of times, but Elric repeatedly said the same denouncement. "I thought you said that was just a legend."

"It is. A legend in the occult world." Elric answered. "It was said that during the Age of the Gods—when magic was at its most potent—a god went mad. This Mad God, Arioch, forged a city and crowned himself its king. Humans flocked to it, various tribes who were lost to history as a result and were granted powers that were more than any mortal could hope to obtain in their lifetime, or even in several lifetimes. Eventually the other gods grew disgusted with this...demagogue they once called a coeval, so they fashioned a mortal being—Crom the God-Slayer—and sent him to eradicate Arioch and his Court."

"Did he succeed?"

"Can't say for sure. The legend claims that a week after the God Slayer entered the city, it vanished in an apocalyptic flash of light. It was never seen again. After that the city was nearly forgotten about, with only fragments referencing it remaining, and all hidden by the Mage Association and the Church."

Clitus reclined back in his chair, and said "There are, however, theories as to what happened. Some believe that Crom succeeded in his goal and the city vanished as a result; some believe that he became the new king of this Mad City; some believe the court killed the God Slayer after he succeeded in his mission and took the reins of control for themselves; and some of you heathen mages have theorized the city was sucked into a pocket dimension—not unlike your reality marbles—where a portal to it will occasionally connect to our world every few decades to abduct unsuspecting victims. There are also those who have supposedly escaped from the city and lived the remainder of their lives."

"Yeah, not many of them or their descendants are left."

Luvia raised an eyebrow, asking "Why?"

"Back when America was still filled with outlaws and cowboys, it was said the Alagaddans abducted a bounty hunter and when he returned—bearing revolvers bearing Alagaddan symbols—he began hunting the Alagaddans and their kin; leaving none alive."

"A blessing, when considering the damage, they have the ability to cause."

Elric looked to the Judas Priest, voicing some curiosity "And the innocent men, women and children who were only guilty of association?"

"An unfortunate byproduct."

"Stark!" Both Liliana and Marcus protested. Giving the impression they disagreed, despite their opposition to the Alagaddan people.

Sighing, Elric reclined back similarly to Clitus "Anyway, these symbols on the parchment Richter brought to all of you are indeed Alagaddan. How it pertains to this Grail is what is alarming." Then looked to Richter "Did the people you stole this parchment from say anything further about the Grail?"

"Well, first off, "stole" is a bit harsh." Richter corrected him, then followed up once he saw the get to the pointexpression on his nephew's face by saying "They mentioned that they were taking the Grail to a city, that and these parchments they were seeking out would help reunite their old cohorts."

"Well, that's...something."

"And you just let them abscond with it?" the Iscariot, Marcus asked, dismayed. "And what? Settled for this instead?"

"There were thirty of them, and I only possessed a small cadre of five at the time." Richter retorted in his defense. "And at the time I did not know it was an actual Grail—I assumed it was a fraud."

Elric also spoke up in his uncle's "These are Acolytes we're talking about. If he did try anything they would have killed him brutally and none of us would have heard about this in the first place."

Richter looked grateful to see Elric defend him, but still seemed forlorn about something he was yet to reveal. "I'm afraid that is not the worst of the news, however." Holding up the photo of the Grail. "When they spoke of this Grail, they frequently referred to it as the Greater Grail—and unlike the Grail of the Fourth and Fifth Grail War, this one remains uncorrupted."

Elric, Luvia, Clitus, Liliana, and Marcus' eyes all widened at revelatory.

Shit, that sounds even worse than bad news.

Clitus leaned forward, pressing his hands together before his face, asking Elric "I think I would have to agree with Marcus, halfbreed—your uncle should have risked it and snatched this Greater Grail." Voicing genuine fear "If even half of what we know about Alagadda is true, then just imagine the peril the world will soon find itself in once they use it."

"That is highly doubtful." Gilgamesh came out of his spirit form standing, leaning against the wall with arms crossed together. "The Alagaddans would never use this artifact."

Liliana was startled by his sudden appearance.

"What in God's name…?" Clitus looked to Elric. "Two?"

"Three, actually." the Gunslinger corrected him. "This is King Gilgamesh, an Archer who helps from time to time...for the right circumstances."

Gilgamesh looked toward Elric with an amused smirk. "I must confess, Belmont, this certainly elevates matters greatly."

Elric looked at his Archer, curious, and asked "Is there a reason they won't?"

"The Alagaddans were many things—depraved, very profligate, and self-destructive—but they would not waste their time using it. If they did so, a wish would have been granted by now and the world would have noticed." Gilgamesh explained. "If anything, once it was delivered to them, they will likely do with the Greater Grail similarly to what I did with the Grail I found in life."

"Which was?"

"I stored the Grail in my treasury." Gilgamesh enlightened them. "So, it would stand to reason that the King of Alagadda would do the same."

"What are you basing this off of?" Clitus asked.

"Alagadda vanished two decades before I was born. There were scarce survivors to visit their corrupt city—but some dwelled within Uruk. They were very...vocal on the type of men who ruled it."

Despite personal disdain, Luvia found some logic in the King of Heroes' words "Well...it does not appear that they have used it to affect our world yet so Gilgamesh could be right."

The congregation continued. Disagreement was more than vocal, but they did agree this was a threat. One which none of them could afford to ignore so callously.

Richter continued. "I believe this 'Greater Grail' is the reason the Servants are still around and from what little information I was able to gather in my research it is likely that the Heroic Spirits have been made a permanent part of the world."

"Meaning?"

"Servants may not only be summoned at any time, but it appears that for as long as the Greater Grail exists, they will remain a part of our world—and I highly doubt it can be destroyed in such a fashion similar to the typical Grail."

Sighing, Elric pinched the bridge of his nose as he said, "In other words this new status quo of ours is permanent." Reclining back in his chair, looking at the picture of the symbols. "I wonder what else those dinguses brought into this world."

"You cannot truly blame Emiya for this." Luvia said.

Smirking, Elric asked "Who said I was?" Continuing to look at the image. "They had good cause. But this really is going to be a pain for us moving forward."

"Like hell we can't!" another of Richter's guests said. "In do so they have created a more lethal predicament than we have any precedent to help us contend with."

Elric seemed displeased with that assessment, looking to the representative with unamused or agreeable expression. "And what would you have done in their situation? Hm? Run the risk of someone using a corrupted grail down the line. Even if they did not destroy it the Fifth Grail was too great a risk for them to allow existing and god only knows what would have happened if someone else managed to acquire it."

His defense of Shirou and Rin surprised Luvia. He at times gave the impression he disliked Emiya, So to defend his destroying of the grail was shocking development.

"if anything, Emiya deserves a medal for his efforts." Elric continued. "Besides, his decision is not the problem. The problem is this Greater Grail—we just need to acquire it as soon as possible."

"About that…" Richter's face betrayed a hint of nervousness at that. Pointing to the picture of the parchment. "That's just one of many. From what the Acolytes mentioned, you need all six."

Leaning forward in his own chair, curiously, Clitus asked "For what?" with a concerned expression.

"It will enable them to visit Alagadda."

Elric's eyes widened at that. "What…?" Looking not just alarmed, but terrified. "That should be impossible. Even if Alagadda is still around, only someone from there can visit our world Not the reverse."

"Not necessarily." Richter corrected him. "Do you recall the legend of Silas' collection?"

"Yes."

"It is said one of the collected artifacts he had was a book missing a page. I believe this to be a piece of that one missing page."

Elric could not believe what he was hearing, but let the congregation continue.


After some hours the meeting finally ended.

The various factions would return to their leaders with the information Richter provided them. Richter would be allowed to keep the parchment he recovered from the Acolytes, despite the protests of the Iscariots.

Elric returned to hotel room afterwards, agreeing to meet with Richter the next morning before so he could escort them to a train that was bound for western Europe.

He relaxed on his bed while Mordred seated herself at the desk. Gilgamesh and Enkidu emerged from their spirit form.

"This is a interesting predicament to say the least, Mongrel."

Looking up, Elric asked "How so?" Curious what the King of Heroes was getting at.

"Fighting with the Alagaddans for a Grail more powerful than one I have ever competed for. Now, that is a battle worthy of my power. A very interesting event to find yourself in the midst of."

Looking from Gilgamesh to Mordred and Enkidu then back to the first hero to ask "What would you do if you could claim the Greater Grail, Gilgamesh?"

"Nothing." The King of Uruk responded. "I am King of all, I would not seek the grail, for it is already mine."

The freelancer looked to Enkidu, prepared to ask the same question but could see it in the expression of the Chain of Heaven—he was uninterested in using the Grail at all. Then he looked to the Knight of Treachery "What about you, Mordred?"

"I'd wish for a chance to pull the Sword of Selection."

"The Sword of Selection…" Elric rubbed his stubbly chin, brushing up on his memory of Arthurian lore. "That was the sword your old man pulled, right? The one used to prove she was king?"

Elric's face soured a little thinking about Artoria—remembering the nightmares where she was impaling him with a face devoid of emotion.

"The same. I'd love to see the look on his face as I hold it."

"You think you can pull it?"

"Oh course!" Mordred proclaimed boastfully. "I'll pull it without breaking a sweat." Looking like a long nose would be fitting on her face.

Elric chuckled "Heh." Looking back up at the ceiling. Then he looked to Luvia who was resting on her own bed. "What about you, Luv?"

Keeping her eyes closed, Luvia responded "What use would I have for a grail. If I desire something I prefer to acquire it on my own."

Elric smiled at that.

"What of you, Elric?" she asked in return.

"Me?"

"Is there anything you would wish for?"

That question puzzled Belmont.

Is there anything I even want?

He thought of a number of scenarios. But most of them he could get on his own—mostly involving things he would do to his kin. Another thought was using a wish to get himself married to some beautiful woman. Then one awful memory came to mind.

A memory of his hands holding a lifeless body and his mood soured once again.

April 7

They awoke the next day. Elric retrieved Richter from his hotel room. They boarded a train, then after a few minutes outside of the city, BOOM!