"Why is math so hard?!"
I ran my hand through my hair for the hundredth time that night. I was having a little bit of trouble with my math homework. And by little, I mean I've been stuck on one problem for an hour. Math is not my strong suit. I sighed in aggravation before crumpling up the piece of paper in front of me. "I swear if I don't get any sleep because of this stupid math then I will possibly strangle the math teacher."
"Maybe next time you shouldn't procrastinate," Seri said from the phone I got earlier that day. I had called her since I needed help and she was one of the smartest in the class.
"Hey, I don't procrastinate. I wait until the last minute to do things because I will be older and therefore wiser."
"Seriously?"
I shrugged even though she couldn't see me. "Let's just get back to the stupid problem, I'm supposed to be up in about..." I trailed off as I tried to do the math in my head. "About..." but my brain was fried from the math in front of me.
"Six hours?" My friend commented. I glared at the phone.
"Yeah, that."
"Mongrel," I tensed up and went to cancel the call.
"Jean who's—" before Seri could say anything else, I hung up. I almost breathed a sigh of relief when I saw my phone turn back to the lock screen. I turned to the blonde who interrupted my homework and call.
"What do you need?" I asked, I was wondering why he was coming here. From what I could tell, he hated me. Like the 'I want you dead' hate me. I was also slightly annoyed as I have a bunch of homework to do, and him stopping me isn't exactly helping.
"I've decided to bring you to a meeting of kings," he answered.
"Why can't you just take my dad?"
His eyes narrowed at me, "Don't question me and just come," he ordered.
I raised a slight brow, "No thanks. I prefer not to fail school," I turned back around in my chair to pretend to figure out my homework until he left. Unfortunately, he didn't, instead, he grabbed my shoulder and I felt us teleporting. "What are you—"
"—doing..." I trailed off as I looked in front of me. I was surrounded by two other Servant's and two Master's. Great. Wonderful. I sent a sharp glare to the blonde as he sat down. I took a quick look at the Servant's and Master's, one side was a group of females, the other a group of males. One of the females looked like they wanted to kill me, while everyone else was staring at me in curiosity. Judging by their stats and such, they're of the Rider and Saber Classes. "Nope. I'm going home," I turned and went to grab one of the gems in my pocket. That is until I realized that I didn't have anything in my pocket, not a single thing. I breathed out to contain how upset I was before turning and sitting down.
I frowned deeply and held my glare to the blonde that sat not too far from me. I swear if he wasn't my dad's Servant, he would be six feet under by now. I started to move my leg impatiently as I waited for the meeting to be over. I leaned my head back slightly, hey I at least got a good look at the stars from where I am. But I quickly leaned my head forward again when it started to feel sore. "Your words are no different than Caster's, Archer. It appears he and Berserker weren't the only Servant's in this war to go completely mad," I heard Saber say. I smirked slightly, trying to hold in a laugh. I wasn't paying attention, but from the few encounters I've had with him, she was right.
Rider laughed slightly, "Let's not go that far. Although, I do believe I have an idea as to what Goldie's real name is," Rider said giving the male blonde a slight wink. Goldie? Huh, I could use that nickname. "So then, Archer, you are suggesting that if we want the Grail, we must first ask your permission?" Guess I didn't need to know what the conversation was about.
"Indeed," man, he is a selfish prick. "There is, however, no reason why I should reward lowly mongrels such as you," so is there a reason why he is in this war?
"Wait, you're going to keep it for yourself?" Rider questioned, even though the answer was obvious. Not only did he pretty much say the Grail was his. But that's the point of this war. A pair of Master and Servant take down the others to achieve the Grail for themselves. That's the whole point of the Holy Grail War.
"Fool. My generosity is only for my vassals and my loyal subjects. Which means, if you were to swear loyalty to me, Rider, I could lend you a grail or to whenever you feel the need for one," Archer replied smirking slightly. The Rider looked a little bit amused with how Archer was speaking.
"Sorry, but that's out of the question. Tell me though, Archer, surely you don't have any special interest in the Grail, do you?" Now that question got my interest. I was just asking the question to myself, not too long ago. Besides, he has almost everything he could ever want, so what's his purpose in this battle royale?
"Of course I don't," I raised an eyebrow at his words. "But, I must render a judgment upon those who would dare steal my treasure." And there it is. His reason for fighting, to make sure no one else gets the Grail because he thinks it's his. The Grail, however, isn't anyone's until it claims a victor by the last Servant and Master duo standing. "It is my law. The law which I set down as the rightful king."
"Yes! As a king, you should live by your own law!" Rider finished his cup of wine, which was provided by Archer given the golden goblet, and set down the cup. "However, it has always been my style to take what I want, and I desire the Holy Grail so badly I can almost taste it! After all, I'm the King of Conqueror's, Iskander, am I not?"
"You break the law and I will punish you, there is no place for discussion as right and wrong are irrelevant," I looked slightly towards Saber. She's been awfully quiet. I can hardly tell that she's even here.
As if she could tell that she was being too quiet, she spoke up. "King of Conqueror's, a moment ago you had agreed that the Grail's rightful ownership lies with Archer, and not yourself, so you would take it by force. What makes the Holy Grail so important to you?"
Rider gulped down his refilled glass before blushing slightly from embarrassment. "Reincarnation..." he mumbled. Everyone's eyes widened and some even let out a small gasp, including myself.
"W-Wait didn't you tell me your goal was world conquest—" Rider flicked his master back as he started to speak.
"Idiot, as if I would leave the conquering the world to a mere cup! World conquest is my dream to make true! The wish I would ask is my first step to achieving that goal." I wonder how confused people would be if they suddenly saw him charging into battle and starting wars. I guess that can be a downside to the Grail War if someone achieved a wish like that. Rider and Archer continued their small bicker about Rider's wish and how the Grail belonged to Archer. Gosh, this was kind of getting annoying.
What brought me back into the conversation was Saber's wish. "With the wish-granting device, I will avert Britain's fate of destruction," my eyes widened. What now? I wanted to say something, but I didn't even know what to say. Or how I could speak up to a king. Actually, what king was she? I know Rider, but I don't know Archer and Saber. She said something about Britain so she's got to be someone from—
Wait a minute...
Don't tell me that's King Arthur...
Wow, one of my favorite Arthurian Legends is not only surprisingly a girl but also wants to rewrite history?
"...what the literal heck..." I muttered to myself. However, I was the only one who spoke in the small term of silence. So, everyone looked at me.
"Do you have something to say?" Saber asked glaring slightly at me.
"W-Well...umm..." I tried to find the right words but it was tough. "Rewriting history...is that really the best course of action?" I questioned messing with my fingers a little. "I mean, rewriting history would also rewrite what has happened from that point up until now, which means that it could change the present. If you save Britain by going back in time, then well..." it was tough trying to come up with an example and I could tell Archer just wanted me to shut up from the glare he was giving me. "You know what? I'm just going to shut up now."
"Saber, Archer's Master has a point," Rider said.
"She's not my Master."
"That's not Archer's Master."
"I'm not his Master."
Saber's Master, Archer, and I all looked towards each other after we spoke at the same time. "W-Wait, then who are you?" Rider's Master asked.
"I'm his Master's daughter, trust me when I say, I did not want to come tonight. Before I end up getting myself killed in this war by a passing Servant, I'm gonna go home, even if I have to walk..." I muttered the last bit of myself while standing up. I gave a small wave before walking away. This was not how I wanted to spend my night.
When I finally got outside, I sighed with relief. Finally, I can go home and finish my—I looked around the area. "Crap. I don't know where I am..."
My eyes widened as I jumped back from where I was, right where I was standing was a small dagger. Assassin? But, that's Kotomine's Servant...I looked around trying to spot the black-clad Servant. I had seen him once or twice when going to school, thinking that dad had asked Kotomine to send them to protect us. Now though, I see that that's not the case. If I'm remembering correctly, this Servant isn't that strong by itself, it's when there's a lot of them that's the problem. I ran back inside towards the other Servant's, when I finally got to the courtyard, I felt something come from behind me again.
My arm lit up with Magic Crests as I turned around firing a Gandr shot at the weapon thrown at me. I breathed heavily, "Warning guys, Assassin's here." Just as I finished my sentence, all the Assassin's started appearing around us. "...stupid Kotomine...stupid Grail War..." I muttered as they started to close in on us. If only I had my gems...
One of the many Assassin's ran towards me, I did a backflip just barely missing an attack. Dang they're fast... I guess I'll have to use my Mana. "Is this your doing, Golden Boy?" I heard Rider ask.
"Tokiomi, what a shameful cur," Archer said.
"Yeah, I don't think this is fully my dad's fault," I commented glaring at the Assassin's in front of me.
"This isn't fair! Why are there so many Assassin's surrounding us?!" Rider's Master sounded like he was panicking.
"It's their Noble Phantasm. I guess an order went out about killing us or something," I responded. Rider stood up and the wind started to pick up as he transformed into his armor. I put my hair in a bun, it was very tricky though fighting against the harsh winds.
"Saber! Archer! Here is our banquet's final question. Does a king always stand alone?"
"The king must indeed be alone! Always," Saber answered.
I turned to her, "That wasn't a trick question! How the heck did you get it wrong?!" She sent me another glare. "A king is never alone, they have their subjects!"
"Ah, the lady is correct. Let me show you what I mean," suddenly, as Rider finished his sentence, a sandy landscape appeared. An army started marching towards us.
I looked around slightly, "A reality marble..." I mumbled looking around the area.
"I can make this world as real as can be as it still exists deep within our hearts! My endless armies! Their bodies were destroyed and their souls were offered to the world as Heroic Spirits. Still, these legendary heroes pledge their loyalty to me. My bond with them is my greatest treasure, my path to kingship. Behold the ultimate Noble Phantasm that I, Iskander, possess. Ionian Hetairoi!"
"Wait! So every one of these people is a Servant?!" The small Master asked.
I turned to him slightly, "You seriously didn't know your own Servant's Noble Phantasm?" He shrugged slightly. I shook my head while closing my eyes, "Idiot," I mumbled. The Assassin's stepped back slightly.
"Annihilate them!" Rider yelled, after getting on a black horse.
The entire army started heading towards Assassin's slowly wiping them out. How I was not trampled, I have no idea. Once the Assassin's were dealt with, the entire army yelled in victory. I could see the reality marble slowly fade away as we came back to the courtyard. Everyone looked kind of shocked at how quickly the battle ended. Except for Rider, who continued as if nothing happened. "That ending wasn't as fun as I hoped for. We had said all there is to say, that will do for today," Rider got up.
"Wait, Rider, I'm not finished," Saber stood up from where she was sitting.
"You, keep silent. Tonight was a conversation between kings. However, I no longer recognize you as a king, Saber," Rider got on his carriage after he summoned it. Did I miss something other than her wish to make him say that? "Little girl, what up from your sad dream. If you don't, you'll someday lose even the modicum of pride you have as a Heroic Spirit. The king you speak of is a curse," then Rider left without another word.
"Pay that mongrel no heed, Saber. You are correct follow the path you believe in, your agonizing pain and sorrow as you bear a burden of kingship that is too heavy a weight for any. It is splendid to look upon. Keep at it, oh King of Knight's." Archer stood up. What I heard from that: I was right. Saber was the King of Knight's. Before he turned around, I felt a hand on my mouth and around my waist. I suddenly teleported away, it was not Goldie locks, h had a small look of shock on his face when he turned around. Plus, he was in front of me.
When we got into the newer room, I turned and glared at who grabbed me. Only to have my eyes widen from slight shock. "Assassin?"