Chapter 43
The rest of the week passed uneventfully for Rin, her preparations for her own summoning complete.
Although she had seen one or two suspicious foreigners that had been acting strange in public. She was quite sure that the blonde foreigner with gray eyes was at least affiliated with a Master. There was also the muscular guy wearing shades all the time walking around in broad daylight with a scar across his face. When he walked past her, she could smell the scent of death off of him.
She hadn't seen the Einzbern Master yet, though they were guaranteed a spot in the Holy Grail War. As for the Matous, the last of the three families, she knew that Shinji had no Magic Circuits to speak of, and he doubted that Sakura Matou could become a Master with how she didn't really belong in the family. Still, she'd keep a look out at school for suspicious behaviour.
The remaining slots were filled in by other magi and the Clock Tower. So the people she had seen earlier were most likely from the Clock Tower and the independent magi.
As a Second Owner of the land, it was her duty to monitor the city and police rogue magi, but in the Holy Grail War exceptions had to be made. As of now, she had just kept her head down all the time to avoid scrutiny and continued her normal school life, biding her time until the time when her magical power peaked.
And the day had finally come.
Taking her time, she packed up her things and left school, making sure to avoid the student council room on her way out. For some reason, Ryuudou Issei had been especially active in persecuting her, like he was filled with energy every day. He had been even more diligent and active as the student council president of late, with even the teachers noticing it and praising him while worrying who would succeed him when he stepped down.
Passing the track and field venue, she saw the track team trio working hard, sweat flying from Kaede's body as she sprinted past the other girls and boys on the track. Near the edges of the track, Kane was resetting the bar after knocking it down while practicing her high jump. Yukika went back and forth between the members of the entire track and field team, carrying bottles of water and towels for everyone to use. A slight grin tugged at her face when she saw them, but she quickly turned back around to leave.
"Tohsaka-san."
A stern voice called out to her while she was wrapped up in her own thoughts. Stopping in place, she turned around to face the teacher.
"I noticed your attention seemed to be wavering in class today. Are you alright?"
Rin blinked in surprise. It was true that she was getting nervous about the summoning ceremony, but she was sure that her facade had been fool-proof. Was there a crack in her persona somewhere? Also, there seemed to be something off about his left arm. Was it… Ah, she still had to go home to make preparations. It would be best for her to head home for now and end the conversation fast.
"No, I'm fine Souichirou-sensei."
She replied quickly and left the school grounds, eager to get back home.
Behind her, Kuzuki watched her go.
While she was leaving, she spotted a certain red-haired boy carrying a mop and a bucket into the archery dojo. Jeez, what a nice guy. Truly, the unofficial school janitor, cleaning the club room even after quitting it. She took no more notice of him and walked home.
Perhaps waking up early in the morning had left her slightly off-kilter. She had no idea why the clocks had suddenly decided to shift forward by half an hour, but she suspected it had to do with her opening the box left to her by her father. She had felt a wave of mana emanate from it after opening it, but hadn't noticed any significant changes to herself or the environment. She had checked the box for magical protection and enchantments beforehand, but it was likely the enchantment was disguised as a minor preservation spell on the box, which made her miss it.
Hopefully nothing else went wrong for her summoning. After studying his instructions for so long and preparing the appropriate gems, she couldn't fail. Even without a catalyst, she would summon Saber!
The rest of the day passed by in a blur as she made the final preparations, reusing the ritual circle in the attic as she moved the furniture until she was satisfied there was enough space, then she liquefied the gems until they filled the ritual circle, drawing silver lines on the ground as the circle started glowing the precious materials filling it guaranteeing her summon from one of the three knight classes.
Checking the clock one last time, she confirmed the time for when her mana would peak.
Raising her hand clad in the long sleeves of her favourite red turtleneck, she flicked her right twintail backwards.
"Yosh, let's do this."
Stretching out her arm while standing in the middle of the circle, she recited the chant.
Silver and iron to the origin. Gem and the archduke of contracts to the cornerstone.
The ancestor is my great master Schweinorg.
The alighted wind becomes a wall. The gates in the four directions close, coming from the crown, the three-forked road that leads to the kingdom circulate.
Shut (fill).
Shut (fill).
Shut (fill).
Shut (fill).
Shut (fill).
Repeat every five times.
Simply, shatter once filled.
――――I announce.
Your self is under me, my fate(doom) is in your sword.
In accordance with the approach of the Holy Grail, if you abide by this feeling, this reason, then answer.
Here is my oath. I am the one who becomes all the good of the world of the dead, I am the one who lays out all the evil of the world of the dead.
You, seven heavens clad in three words of power, arrive from the ring of deterrence, O keeper of the balance ―――！
Red light filled the attic, the circle glowing as red mana drifted upwards, raising her twintails and fluttering her skirt. The moment she finished the chant, the glow abruptly stopped. Falling to her knees in exhaustion, she raised her hand and glanced at the Command Seals etched onto her right hand, two circles with a line drawn towards her elbow.
"That was flawless! I knew I drew the best card from the deck!"
She looked around expectantly, turning to the left and right to spot her Servant.
"Hoi?"
*BOOM*
A crash sounded from below her, the attic shaking with the impact.
"WHY!?"