It begun many years ago, during Remnant's Great War.
"This will have to do," said Gilles de Rais. When he had been summoned in this world, it had been as a Caster. However, when his Master, Salem, had taken the spellbook away from him, he had been remade into a Saber through some strange machinations that she had performed. Weakened and in a terrible state, he had no delusions of thinking that he would win the Grail War. Yet, with the promise of having found salvation, he gladly and hastily followed his Master, foolishly believing that she was akin to the Maiden that he had followed.
"I still do not believe this," replied the King of Vale. He was known by another name but to Gilles, he was known as Ozma. "A device that could grant any wish? There has to be some limitation to it. None of the Relics are as generous as this."
"Ah yes, the Relics made by the gods of this world." Gilles nodded. "But no. Unless the Grail had been corrupted here, a wish could be granted." It is far too soon for that to happen. Judging from his companion's expression, this must have been the first ever in this world. It couldn't possibly be corrupted by some evil.
There were other purposes as well. Depending on where the Grail War was held but here on Remnant, there could be no other reason in Gilles' mind. Such concepts are new and foreign to this world; it had been a miracle by itself that he and the others were even brought here.
"Shame then, that I wasn't a Master. I would have been glad to have fought by your side."
Gilles laughed bitterly. "A knight though I may be, I am not worthy to follow a King like yourself. You must find a knight worthy to stand by your side." He was humbled once. It seems to be his fate to be in the presence of those greater than himself.
"Then teach me." Ozma had reached out his hand. "Teach me everything you know of these Holy Grail Wars."
"Very well. It is the privilege of lesser men to light the fires that will forge those who will be greater." Gilles took it. He had to make up for his sins here. He could not face the Maiden he followed like this. "Firstly, this thing you call aura will have to take place of magic circuits."
/-/
Years later when those marks had appeared on the back of his hand, Ozma, now as headmaster Ozpin, knew what he had to do. Using Long Memory as his catalyst, he made sure to call upon a Servant that would best aid him. While his old friend's sword now rests in the Vaults of Beacon Academy, he would respect his wish and not summon Gilles here. There was a fear that he would come with that accursed book again and Remnant is already in danger at the presence of its copy; it didn't need the original.
When most of the students had left for their missions, Ozpin had requested that no one was to enter his office for a few hours or so. His faculty and staff already knew of the other secret war that had been going on in the shadows; he used it as an excuse. Eccentricities of an old and reincarnating wizard, he supposed. But this one, he would rather keep that a secret from them; he never learned how Masters were chosen.
Ozpin had been told that blood wasn't necessary. Gilles had guessed that aura being the manifestation of the soul, would be a much louder call to whoever it was that he had intended to summon; Gilles had compared it to a prayer and that it was the soul itself that was reaching out. Besides, what was important was that he himself was to be the anchor of whoever he would bring to this world. With a chalk that had been infused with a little bit of Dust, Remnant's versatile yet volatile resource, the headmaster of Beacon Academy drew a circle with many intricate designs and lines that were contained within it. He did the best he could to recreate the one that his companion from the Great War had made, guided by an old notebook with worn pages. He wasn't certain if this would actually work and neither was Gilles; this was an added measure.
With the difference between Gilles' world and Remnant, they needed the principles behind it rather than the motions. At least, that is the assumption they are working with.
At its center, he put down Long Memory, his cane. The closer and more specific the object being used as a catalyst is to the Heroic Spirit in question, the higher the chances that one was to get that individual. In the case that there wasn't any, Gilles had explained to him that those most like themselves would get summoned instead. Considering who it was that Ozpin intended to summon, both instances should end with the same result; this was nothing more than being certain, removing any chance of luck.
I may not get that knight that you believe I deserve, Gilles, he thought. But know that I could never have done it without your aid. Think better of yourself, you have done more than you realize, wherever you are. Whether that was for better or for worse is up to whatever lies ahead.
When it was done, his fingers touched one of the circles and he began his own chant. Rather than go with the one that Gilles had written for him, Ozpin chose his own. Gilles always did espouse prayers during the Great War and that a personal prayer is often stronger as it is closer and truer to one's hearts. Ozpin chuckled. He had never seen anyone more religious and fervent in their beliefs than that man. Even from his time when the gods of Remnant walked among them, there was little in the way of such devoted worship. The headmaster wondered what it was about this Holy Maiden that Gilles always spoke highly of that made him turn to this God of theirs.
Another difference was that instead of those things called magic circuits, aura was to be in its placement. Ozpin dreaded as he wondered, for a moment, how the magic of Remnant would factor into this. It probably wouldn't be similar to the True Magic that he had heard about. Shaking his head, he could worry about that another time. Right now, he had a Servant to summon. Taking a knee, he placed his fingers on the edge of the circle. He closed his eyes and took a deep and calming breath.
"For it is through the turning of time that we become legends," he began. "Through this, we leave behind memories that become myth and folklore. Infinite in death and veiled by the great curtain, I call upon you, and by my soul, bind you to me."
Just as Gilles had said, the circle he had made began to glow in a light of emerald color. It was a good thing then that he had been in his office. Such brightness surely would have the attention of everyone in Beacon Academy. He didn't want to risk anyone else if he could. He'll take this burden as a Master alone. As it was, there weren't any witnesses.
The gales of wind picked up its pace. Documents and folders were displaced from their places and various objects not heavy enough were being moved by the blowing winds of the ritual. The light grew brighter in a crescendo until it climaxed into flashing neon.
When the light had gone, Ozpin commented as the shadowy figure of the Servant became clearer and his features more distinct, "that is certainly not the face I expected to see. A strange feeling it is, seeing an old but memorable face."
In front of Ozpin was a man whose skin-tone was medium dark and possessed messy brown hair. He had a green tunic and pieces of armor that decorated on his person. Normally, he would have a staff but due to unique circumstances, his Servant possessed a sword instead. It was a sword that Ozpin had recognized and he could easily guess the class of the Heroic Spirit before him. It had been a gamble well paid.
"It is an old favorite, isn't it?" Saber answered. "Though I would say it is far stranger to be seeing a face that I would soon wear, my Master."
Saber did not bare the face of his first incarnation. He bore the face of that life from before he had been cursed, Ozma. A great warrior and mage who had once sought adventure and fighting against whatever evil that cursed the place he was at. An adventurous sort that had been innocent of just what was to come and the tragedy that would have awaited him.
"Welcome to Beacon Academy, your majesty." Ozpin smiled warmly at seeing Saber, like seeing an old friend that he hadn't heard from in decades. "Or rather, welcome back."
"The pleasure is all mine, headmaster." His Servant returned with his own warmth. In some way, he had already accomplished one of his goals: separating himself from his hosts. It wasn't quite there yet but it meant that it was possible. "I have come in response to your summons. I may not be a knight you are looking for but perhaps a king should suffice."
Suddenly, Ozpin nearly collapsed. Saber had been quick to his side. "I am alright. I'm alright." Something had just surged within him.
"What has happened?"
"My…" Ozpin shook his head. A side effect of this Grail War? Or was it something that could only occur here in Remnant? "My aura reserves have been increased?"
Not even Saber had any answers for that. "As far as we know, this has only ever been the second one, here in Remnant. We weren't even Masters then."
"How do you know of this information? Didn't Gilles say that the memories of previous Grail Wars would have been vague at best?"
"I was there, remember?" Saber answered. "Or rather, we were there, in the flesh. The memories you have of that life would still be here with me. I may be forged by the legends and myths that came after but I was still a living thing. I am certain that you still remember that, Ozma the Wizard?"
"Even that paid off?" Ozpin couldn't help but face the heavens above. "Gilles. I could not have asked for a better knight and guide than you." That man had done more than Ozpin had asked for. Checking himself, Ozpin guessed that it might have something to do with the Grail itself.
Saber held Ozpin as gently as he could. Adjusting to the sudden change of aura reserves was a new experience for the headmaster. The Grail War itself was a new experience for him. But now that he was given the chance and he wasn't going to throw it away. He didn't know what happened in the last, but he was certain of what he intends to do in this one.
He had heard of rumors of great battles during the Great War. But they had been away from the populace that he had no means of checking for their truths. He didn't even know who the Masters were at that time or the Servants there.
"We must not let the others know," he said. It was his first order of command. He didn't need to use those marks for that. If he had his way, he didn't have to.
Thankfully, Saber was understanding and knew why. The perks of having one's self as their own Servant. "None of them should be dragged into this, even if it would help to gather allies in this endeavor. Not unless we have to, but we will fight our enemies alone. It will be a difficult path, and one that we couldn't do much if we stay here."
"I'll have to retire from Beacon." Having made their agreement, Ozpin took out a glove from his desk. While it would be odd for the headmaster of Beacon Academy to suddenly wear only one, it wouldn't be too obvious as most wouldn't pay much attention to such detail. Only those close to him would notice.
"Still an aloof man after all these years?" Saber smirked.
"It wouldn't be too out of place, now wouldn't it?" Ozpin chuckled. They really were alike with how similar even their expressions were. "Now come. I recall that our old friend has said that Servants are given knowledge of the world but I am sure you would want to see the state of the kingdom with your own eyes."
Saber only smiled and dematerialized. While he won't be physically present there, Ozpin's Servant would still be able to perceive the world through his eyes. Their eyes. Rather than bring him to glass walls that served as his office's windows, Ozpin took the elevator and made his way to the ground floors of Beacon Academy.
The trip down was quiet and tranquil. It gave Ozpin time to think and adjust his plans. He hadn't expected that the Grail War would come so soon. Then again, considering recent events, it was perhaps inevitable that it would come.
I wonder, he thought. Why had this Grail War happened at all? For something as merely granting a wish, there had to be a purpose for such a reward. Especially here in Remnant. What brought it here?
He could feel Saber's emotions as he laid eyes on the school that he had built. When he had been the King of Vale, he never did see any of the renovations that had occurred for Beacon Academy. It was a good test to see if there were any differences in their perspectives or if there was any gap of knowledge that should be expected given that Saber would still be formed by his legends and myth.
"Oh, you've redecorated," said Saber in his mind. Ozpin's lips curved upwards expectantly. "I don't like it."
"Excuse me?" Ozpin sounded offended, smile quickly fading. That was certainly a difference. Had his tastes changed over the years?
"What happened to that old painting?" The headmaster felt the direction that his Servant was pointing at. True, there had been a painting there. "One of our friends made that painting and you had it removed?"
"A necessity, I'm afraid," he defended. "Few people ever truly appreciate the artistic expressions made by a friend. Though, I would think it should please you to know that the painting has been moved to the National Museum."
"And what about these walls?" Apparently, his Servant wasn't listening. Saber was more focused on the changes that have been made after his lifetime. "Does Beacon not have enough in its budget to at least repaint these every once in a while? It looks so dull."
"I would argue that it is better that we focus more on the students' education than mere appearances." There were also the vandals who drew phallic objects on them and phone numbers that falsely leads to a good time. Ozpin pitied the students who had their contact information spread like that.
It was a good thing that there was no one else present. Ozpin may be an aloof, maybe even odd, headmaster but to have him engage in conversations with himself—even if it was quite literal—might just be a step too far. Even worse was that he was engaging in some kind of argument.
"And your carpets are in need of washing."
"Okay." Ozpin's temples are in need of a massage. They were supposed to be of similar mind. What a moment this must be, Ozpin actually wishing for similarities rather than differences. "Is there anything that you like about Beacon?"
"Beacon is a special place for me. Perhaps it is the reputation that we have made in that life but this school is akin to children for us. To see it in such a state is terrible for an old man's heart."
Ozpin rolled his eyes. Was he really that doting of a father? "I am certain that I am the older one here."
The tour continued. Thankfully, at least on the renovations and new additions, Saber had given him complements and praises on the decisions made. Ozpin had that going for him at least. Sentimentality. He supposed he could forgive his Servant self of that. He probably would if he ever would be summoned as one by whoever would be his host somewhere down the line.
He shook his head. If Ozpin had his way, this would be the last life that he would live.
"Not even going to rely on our gods, this time?" Saber asked.
"No," Ozpin replied. "I have… doubts about how they would see this… foreign element in Remnant." If they were observing Remnant at all.
"Messing with their experiment, perhaps." Ozpin could feel his Servant nodding in his head. "They would most definitely wouldn't see it favorably. Especially if the Grail does what we intend to do with it."
However, the tour turned sour when Ozpin brought Saber to the Vault. After giving his assurances, his Servant manifested and walked alongside his Master. Ozpin had brought him to Amber's pod. Her comatose state was one that still weighs on him even after all this time.
Ozpin had explained to Saber everything that had occurred to her. For certainty's sake, they had checked Amber's hands. The three marks were absent which was a relief.
"I do not even wish to begin what it would be like serving a comatose Master," said Saber.
"Even if she was," Ozpin agreed. "With half of her powers taken, who would even take command? The magic of the Maidens is another element that we have yet to consider. Is there any information from the Grail perhaps?"
Saber shook his head. "Unless you're looking for the Maidens as Heroic Spirits. Even then, I doubt that they would bear their names in life, just like I have in this one."
"Then, we can assume that none of the Maidens were Masters during the Great War either."
"Has this operation been done before?" Saber waited for Ozpin's response. When his Master shook his head, he added, "a new type of Grimm. One of hers, no doubt."
"There couldn't be anyone else." While the Grimm may be creatures that aren't yet fully understood, one thing was certain in their eyes: The Grimm responsible for Amber wasn't one that could occur naturally. It couldn't have evolved from anything and had her work written on it.
"And she still has the book, doesn't she?"
"She's holding it close to her chest." Ozpin looked down in shame. "We should have destroyed it when we had the chance."
"Gilles had been wounded. He sacrificed himself for our sake."
"Yes. It worries me that we might see him again."
"Is the sword still here?"
"Yes, would you like me to show you?"
His Servant didn't need to wait for approval. Saber was already making his way towards one of the storage rooms located here in Beacon. It had been built during his life and it was as the King of Vale that had Gilles' blade stored here. A small container, couldn't even be called a room; it was much closer to that of a special locker that allowed a bit more wiggle room for one person to step inside. There was a lock there and Ozpin had the key.
There it was within a sleek black case. Untouched ever since it had been stored here, the sword of the man who had come to be known as the Mad Saber rested. Saber's hands traced the corners of the case gently. Though his fingers were coarse and rough, his fingers were gliding as he felt that rectangular shape. He stopped when it touched the unlocking mechanisms of the case.
"Has it acted, recently?" asked Saber.
"I wouldn't know." Ozpin shook his head. "I had never touched it. If it had, I would never have noticed."
"Gilles always did spout something about this Holy Maiden of his."
Ozpin thought about for a moment. "Yes… yes he did. You remember what he said her name was?"
"He said it was Jeanne, I think. Jeanne d'Arc."
Thoughts of one of Ozpin's students came to mind. "Perhaps it might have. Though, I am uncertain just how alike they may be." He might have to check to see if he was a Master too. At least, he could trust him if he did get Gilles. It would be a relief, honestly. "If you wish, we could bring him here under pretense of being in the circle. Both him and his partner."
"Perhaps another time." Saber left the case as it was. This special containment locker had been constructed well enough that not even dust particles made their way in. The only damage that had been done here was the slight fading of the color but that was barely noticeable with the dim lighting of the Vault. "Besides, we met Gilles in a changed state. How different would his original Caster form be? If he would even recognize us at all."
Returning to the office, both Master and Servant made their way back up. They confirmed beyond any doubt Saber had a basic grasp of the world of Remnant. The only differences here were the details but those were unimportant. Remnant was enjoying its greatest time of peace here and their hearts sank at the thought. It wasn't just Amber's incident that made them this way but the fact that they were Master and Servant at all. How much of that peace would last now that there is another Holy Grail War to be waged?
Once again, Saber dematerialized when Ozpin had stepped into the elevator. The trip back to the office wasn't as tranquil as before though it was hard to tell from the outside.
"They will come for her," Saber said their thoughts out loud. "Even if it would be possible with only half of the Maiden's power, they will still come for Amber. They'll come for the Relic, too, if they could find it."
"Which is why we will be staying here for the time being," Ozpin replied. "You are at your strongest here, Saber." Knowing what he had to do, the headmaster contemplated at having his resignation after the Vytal Festival. It had been a long time since he himself had been the adventurer. For too long he had stayed in one place, made sure that the kingdoms kept going. But with the Grail War soon coming, Ozpin realized that he could not stay in Beacon throughout it all; he had to be on the move.
The familiar ticking sounds of the tower's gears greeted them both as they reentered the office. The rest of the day had been spent in performing his duties as the headmaster. Though there was little to be done, there was still the matter of a multitude of paperwork that he had to perform for Vale. With Saber at his side, such demands were halved. His Servant knew of his signature and could make decisions that he would approve. Saber was more of an ordinary servant at the moment.
Of course, should anyone enter the room, and there were hints of that that they could both hear, Saber would vanish, keeping his presence a secret. He couldn't wander far from his Master, they were testing their limits while the students were away and found that there was a certain distance that Saber could go without straining much of his Master's aura. For Ozpin, the limit was at the gates of Beacon Academy if he were to start in his office. Any further and more aura would need to be used. Had that been the reason that his reserves had increased?
"Perhaps it the magical energy. Magic circuits are much closer to pseudo nerves, aren't they?"
"And Aura is tied to the soul itself. Maybe even Remnant's magical energy made manifest."
As they continued to exchange information and test what they could do, Ozpin wrote down everything that he learned. Most were merely confirmations and rejections of those hypotheses and theories that he and Gilles had made. Aura in place of magic circuits? Check. Dust instead of blood? Check. Increase of reserves? That was new. The only thing that remained was combat.
Then, one day later, there was an attack on Vale. Rather than panic, Ozpin only smirked. He wasn't ignorant of the news. There had been reports of Dust robberies lately with no sign of them ever returning to the market. The conclusion made had been simple: The Dust was being stored somewhere for a reason. He already had scouts sent for that express purpose and now that it had occurred, it was time to put test another thing.
"Come Saber," Ozpin said. "Let us see what we can do."
"In public?"
"I'm certain that you could keep yourself hidden," Ozpin assured him. "I shall be there myself. Should there anyone who happens to bear witness, let it be on me."
"Already preparing for the future, aren't we?"
"We do not know who else would be participating. Let us only hope that she isn't one of them this time."
He could feel his Servant nodding. "Forth with valor, Valean."
"With valor," Ozpin repeated. Old words that he used to say. Such things fade with time. Shame, really. Ozpin really liked that one.
The pair hopped onto the Bullhead. Other professors that remained in Beacon joined him in his flight. Throughout the flight, Ozpin would occasionally glance down at the hands of those who shared the flight with him. Only he had a glove on while the others had their exposed, revealing only their skin. It was only after he had been certain of marks' absence did he relax.
"That is a lot of Grimm," Saber said. "Brought to Mountain Glenn as their launch point."
Ozpin nodded in agreement. He had sent scouts there for a reason. One thing is for certain: Beacon won't be handling security for the Vytal Tournament now.
When they were of adequate height, many of the huntsmen and huntresses there have begun to leap off the airship. Ozpin waited until after everyone else had descended. Rather than use any sort of landing strategy, he stayed as the only passenger in that airship until the pilots found a more secure landing spot. From there, Ozpin rushed out and immediately dealt with the nearby Grimm on his own. Saber will have his moment but it falls to him as the Master to set the stage.
"This should be good." After having satisfied his conditions, Ozpin checked his surroundings for any witnesses. When there were none, he said, "Saber, now is your chance."
Surrounding them were only a few Grimm. They could barely be called fodder.
"Not much of a challenge here, Master. A warmup at best perhaps."
"Good. That is what we're looking for."
"Very well, then. Let us see what we can do."
Saber appeared shortly after and engaged with the Grimm. True enough, they could barely be called fodder as they fell by Saber's sword. Ozpin watched as vigilant as he could. There were no witnesses that he could detect.
/-/
Cinder's eyes narrowed when she caught a glimpse of the headmaster of Beacon Academy separating from the rest of the group when they had landed. She had been far enough from them that she was certain that she wouldn't have been seen. Even if she was, no one will think that she was specifically following him. As she stomped down on the Beowolf that pounced at her, everyone will simply guess that she was looking out for some ally of hers while they were busy defending Vale.
One of her hands traced the back of the other. The marks there were kept hidden underneath a carefully designed combat gloves that specifically hid much of it. As an added measure, she wrapped bandages around it, giving off the impression that she was an unarmed combatant. Hardly anyone would notice them unless they were specifically looking for them. Only other participants would ever notice it. Only other participants would ever look for it.
"Ma'am?" Emerald asked. With her was Mercury Black.
"Help out the other huntsmen and huntresses for now," she commanded.
"But the Grimm?"
"We will have another chance and another time." She continued to trace that hand. If needs be, she always had a monster of her own to wreck that havoc. Hiding it would prove difficult, however. Her own monster wasn't the stealthiest of beings. "A more fitting time."
So, she thought. Are you participating this time, my dear headmaster? She'll need to know. Looking at the Grimm surrounding her, an idea came to her. Perhaps, I should call for some reconnaissance. I'm sure she'll send one as soon as she is able. She'll need to know if there were others here in Beacon. Some Seers will suffice.
One of her eyes burned. She could feel that longing, that desire to be whole again. Soon. She'll take that which is hers soon. It was only a matter of time but her patience was running thin. She had yet to find her target's location but it had to be close. She was close.
Cinder relieved some of that stress by striking the Grimm that dared approach her.
"Not yet, Berserker," she whispered. But there was no one physically there to hear her. "Not yet. We will strike soon." Cinder will have her moment and she needed to play her cards right. She had to considering the monster she has at her beck and call.
AN: This and the next chapter were initially meant to be just one but had to be split because of the amount of stuff I felt I was squeezing into one chapter.
Will be taking ideas/concepts from other fics. In this case, the supposed history between Gilles, Salem, and Ozpin from Knight War Order becomes its own Grail War whose only consistency is that Gilles de Rais is there.
Additionally, laying down some basic ideas for a "Remnant Grail War System" mainly because I feel there is a significance in some of the chants and rituals that I am not getting or would butcher them if I just put them here verbatim. Fantasy tag is there mainly because I feel that I'm taking too many liberties for this Grail War System and the how these RWBY characters become Heroic Spirits.