II.
The Abbe Armand Gautier Busoni had only served the Holy Church in Paris for a few months now, but had lived almost the entirety of his life in the Abbe Senanque just outside Gordes. Despite Paris being a far cry from his old countryside home he had managed to adjust to the more urban lifestyle rather quickly. The tall, vaulted ceilings and long inviting nave of the Church of Saint-Pierre de Montrouge, where he now worked, made him feel as though he were somewhere sprawling and open and not the tight, somewhat claustrophobic quarters of the city where he now resided. Because of this he spent as little time at his apartments as possible, choosing to actually pass many nights at the church. Armand Busoni had been born into a faithful family. Faithful and poor. Poor and miserable. His mother left when he was only four, leaving his father to raise him alone. All the while that they struggled out in the country, just he and his father scraping by, he never lost his faith in God's guiding light. He always believed, always knew, that God would reward his and his father's faith. Then his father died. He died a wretched, painful death, with no one there to ease his suffering except the young Armand, now only ten. Armand traveled to the nearby abbe to ask the priests for nothing more than a proper grave for his deceased father. When the monks of the abbe comprehended Armand's situation they extended to him the two greatest favors he would ever receive. Not only did they give his father a rightful resting place, they also brought Busoni into their order, giving him a home and family like he had never known before.
His faith had finally been rewarded. There he continued to study the lord's works. He fast became one of the most devoted of the monks at the abbe. When he was fifteen, members of the Holy Order came seeking anyone the abbe could offer to join their ranks as arbiters of the holy creed. Armand Busoni was quick to volunteer himself for whatever work God presented. He soon joined the Assembly of the Eighth Sacrament, and while helping them in their recovery of sacred artifacts became more aware of the world of magic and the Mage's Association. He at first lashed out at the heretical acts of mages, though his superiors tried to explain to him how necessary it was for them to work alongside each other he had trouble accepting the tolerance of those who he perceived as actively doing things that went against God's will. After decades of working with the Eighth Assembly he was presented with an opportunity by his superiors. A Holy Grail War was set to begin in Paris, and he, Armand Gautier Busoni, was chosen to be the Churches' representative and mediator.
Now fifty-five years of age Armand had left his home in Gordes and come to Paris. His features were stern and hard, though his propensity for rarely smiling, or even emoting in general, had left his face relatively smooth and free of wrinkles. His short, silver hair showed in stark relief to the muted brown tone of his skin. Bushy gray eyebrows and a short but shaggy beard of the same color that followed his whole jawline gave him an even more imposing presence. As his time in the Eighth Assembly had facilitated the need to defend himself on many occasions the Abbe was a large and imposing figure of prominent musculature, the final touch of his intimidating figure.
From what he had studied regarding the Saint-Hermine family Armand was sure the sisters would both arrive perfectly on time for the scheduled meeting. Mages, and ones from especially lofty families like theirs, had ridiculously high expectations of their own etiquette and the respect they believed they were owed by those "below them." And the Abbe Busoni was sure he was considered below the Saint-Hermines. However he held one measure of respect they could not ignore, and that was his position as the moderator of the Grail War. The daughters of Lord Saint-Hermine had no choice but to pay Armand all due recognition.
As Armand stood at the pulpit, reading some of his preferred verses to pass the time, the sound of the church doors opening, and of foot-steps directed purposefully towards him, caused him to look up. Seven twenty-nine in the AM. Perfectly on time, just as he had anticipated. Having already done his research the Abbe immediately recognized both Louise and Camille as they approached. Though, even without having preemptively memorized their faces he would have known he was in the presence of the Saint-Hermines. The uniforms were known to any with connections to France's mage community, and the sisters both possessed that indomitable spirit that was always exuded by members of the lineage. Armand was surprised to find that his esteem was more naturally drawn to the adopted sister than the true heir of the family. He figured that perhaps not being of the bloodline proper had caused her to train that much harder, and burgeoned her desire to earn the respect of others that much more. Whatever the cause of her natural dignity, it was working.
"The sisters Saint-Hermine I presume." The Abbe Busoni immediately raised his arms in a warm welcome that was in complete contradiction of his stony, unmoving facial features. "I welcome you both to my humble sanctuary and of course to Paris itself. I trust you passed the night in our wonderful city well?"
"A pleasant day and a quiet night yes." Camille had instructed Louise to not mention the last night's events to the Abbe, worried that it may leave them open to some ridicule or show of weakness to him at best, or at worst, if it had been some sort of preliminary test of the Grail War that he may judge their actions incorrect and possibly dismiss them. Either way, she was sure that the best idea was to let the Abbe lead the conversation. Following her own plan Camille continued, "Though it is notably different from our home in Gordes I find Paris quite pleasant. The metropolitan has an appeal all its own."
"True." The Abbe replied. "It has been most hospitable to me since coming here from near Gordes myself."
"You lived in Provence monsieur?" Louise asked.
"Indeed. I spent the majority of my youth living among the monks of the Abbe Senanque."
"Senanque has beautiful grounds. The lavender fields in bloom are picturesque. Father took us there once when we were young." Camille added.
"Of course, of course. I am pleased you both have a high opinion of my childhood home. Though this is hardly the time for pleasant reminiscing. There are quite important matters to discuss." Both sisters nodded agreement to the Abbe's words as he motioned for a young priest to close and lock the doors to the church. When he had completed the task another wave from Busoni's hand commanded the young man to leave the room. "By now I'm sure you have both realized I am the Abbe Armand Gautier Busoni. I am the Church's appointed mediator for this sixth Holy Grail War."
"By your noble bearing and immediate recognition of who we are there could be no doubt as to your identity. We are honored by you monsieur." Camille knew that though the Abbe may be of a lower standing, etiquette dictated she show him the utmost respect. She continued, "Though father had some vague advice he did not offer much in the way of information regarding the war. I'm sure however one of your knowledge and position could easily enlighten us."
"Indeed." The Abbe replied. "Among other things it is my duty as mediator to provide any requested information to the participants. Shall I start at the beginning?"
Camille and Louise both offered nervous nods in answer to Armand's question.
"The Holy Grail War is a ritual which serves to summon the Holy Grail, a divine instrument of such powerful magical capability it is said it has the ability to grant any wish. Every sixty years the seven masters are chosen, some by the mage families who founded the ritual, others by the Grail itself. As the Van Belmuier family were unable to provide a participant the Saint Hermine family's rather unorthodox, and some would say avaricious request to allow two participants was able to be granted. " Armand paused here to gauge the sisters' reactions. Neither one seemed shaken by the implied slight at their family. "Once all seven masters are gathered they must summon their familiars, the heroic spirits who shall act as their Servants and fight alongside them in the War. Provided the Grail has recognized the potential you both possess it will lend you its power to aid you in summoning your Servant. Summon your familiar, form a pact with it, and you shall be granted your command seals as a symbol of your power over your servant."
"Is there some significance to the command seals? I was under the impression they were simply a mark representing the completed contract." Louise asked.
"Far from just being a symbol, they may be your greatest tool while fighting the other masters. As long as you possess them your servant cannot disobey you or bring you direct harm. You are granted three command spells which may be used as absolute orders to your servant. However, once all three are gone, the servant is no longer under any magic bending them to your will. If you must use command spells, be sure you are absolutely resolute in your decision."
"Servants and seals are all important parts of the War of course, " Camille cut in, "but victory good sir. Failure and success."
"Victory." The Abbe replied. "Victory is granted to the last standing master and servant pair. When the other six servants are defeated the grail shall appear to the winner and grant their desire. As for failure. Defeat comes swiftest to those who are killed. Though the loss of one's servant can also spell near defeat."
"Near defeat monsieur?" Louise was curious about his choice of words.
"If you were to lose your servant, there still six others who thirst for victory are there not? The death of their masters would leave them without a mana source and therefore without a means of victory. If a master lacking a servant, approaches a servant lacking a master, a new contract can easily be forged. However, if the loss of a servant causes a master to lose all resolve, they may come here to the church, and claim sanctuary from the war until it is over. This is my last responsibility as the over seer of the Grail War."
"I assure you monsieur you will not see one of the Saint-Hermine bloodline choosing to hide amongst your pews while a chance at victory still lingers." Camille replied to the abbe's somewhat condescending tone with her usual air of confidence. "We were not gifted two places in the Holy Grail War. They have been rightfully earned."
"If you are under the impression that I was calling the Saint-Hermine's honor into question I assure you madame that was never my intention. Honorable as you may be, and deserving as you and your sister are of your places you must admit it is a highly unorthodox situation. It is not my place to question a participant's right to compete, I am but a humble observer and mediator."
"Indeed." Camille clicked her tongue at the abbe to emphasize that she was still upset by the implication of his words.
Louise, in an attempt to sooth over the harsh mood in the room tried to steer the conversation back to the particulars of the Grail War. "Have you any other advice for us Abbe? Anything regarding the summoning of our servants?"
"You are not the first masters whom I have spoken with. Four others have already paid their deference to the church. I will offer you this one piece of information. The only three of the seven servant classes not yet summoned are that of Rider, Caster, and Assassin. If any of those three are your desired servant I suggest you summon with haste."
Louise made careful note of the information. Knowing the three knightly classes of Saber, Lancer, and Archer were already claimed made her uneasy as she was originally hoping to claim the sheer power of one of those, however she was not saddened at the loss of Berserker. She needed a servant who she could rely on to think for itself, and Berserkers were not know for their subtlety or autonomous intellect.
"I am grateful to you for all you have told me monsieur." Camille turned to her sister after addressing the abbe. "And I'm sure my sister is grateful as well."
Louise offered the abbe a bow before turning to face her sister. Camille's eyes held an intensity that Louise was not used to being on the receiving end of.
"My dear younger sister, now feels like a most appropriate time. Though you are my family, you will soon be my opponent, and victory can only belong to one individual." Camille was visibly shaking as she delivered the challenge to Louise. "Though it pains me to do so, I must now count you among the others foes I will face. However, as is our family creed, I do so with honor. Two days. I grant you two days which I will make no effort to find you, track your movements, or make any attempts to defeat you. However, once those two days are over, you will be treated as nothing more than an obstacle between myself and the grail."
Louise had to maintain herself if for no other reason, than to keep the abbe's opinion of the Saint-Hermine family high. She had known this moment was coming ever since father had explained what the Grail War was, but now that it was here, and she was having to look at her sister, the closest friend she had ever known, as an opponent, as someone she may have to kill, Louise was hard pressed to not let her emotions overflow. "I know that there will be no greater foe that I may face in the coming trials than the one who stands before me. I am honored that my most skilled foe is so gracious as to extend me such a courtesy, and I would be remiss to decline it. I look forward to seeing you on the battlefield Madame Saint-Hermine."
Camille, not to be outdone by her sister, replied with the same grace and dignity. "I'm sure you will bring great honor to your family name. May we meet on even footing in the coming battle Madame Saint-Hermine."
Each of the sisters placed their right hand across their chest to touch their left shoulder and offered a respectful bow to the other. The abbe was almost touched by the display of familial love on display before him. Sometimes, he thought to himself, mages really do live up to the haughty ideals they put on display.