[X] -yet she was aware there was a 'Church Overseer' acting as a grand referee of sorts. Sounded like someone she should meet with sooner than later
"Hold on, there's supposed to someone called a 'Church Overseer', right?" Sakura asked.
"Well…" Beryl began, "It's not as if any Church itself oversees the war. I mean, we're told that's they used to do, way back when. But really Mistress, the Star-Cell simply uploaded the data of a Church priestess as that's what's expected for a Grail War."
With Beryl rambling on a little, Sakura said, "Er, what I was trying to say was, could we meet the Overseer first, regardless of whether they're a Church person? They really do sound like someone I should get to know right away."
"As you wish, Mistress," Beryl smiled and nodded, "You'll find their chapel in the gardens, but up in the hill this time, instead of downhill to the gates."
Sakura breathed out and said, "Hey, thanks," given that info was all she would've wanted to know from the start. Though it was funny how she now had to go right back out of the big oaken door she'd been hesitant to enter.
The sheer size of the gardens, like the size of everything around the Hotel Aquarius, meant it was still quite some distance to walk, which left Sakura huffing and puffing by the time she actually made it out to said chapel, a dusty place of reddish brick and angular roofs. "Whew, I'm really not used to this much exercise. I mean, makes me worried I'm kind of too scrawny to be a Master," Sakura said.
"Since this is a virtual world, anything to keep your legs from atrophying," Beryl said, giving yet another reminder of what this world was.
"Trust me, you'll get used to this little hike of ours before you know it," said a third voice, which came from a woman standing right by the chapel's entrance arch. This woman was unsurprisingly dressed in a nun's robe, but also sported dark blue hair cut boyishly short.
"Ah, so you'd be the Overseer, right?" Sakura asked.
The nun smirked. "Well, it's not like there's anyone else here they could be. Yes, this Star-Cell dredged me up to make sure all you players didn't cause any more havoc, oh, than you probably already will anyway," she said, before she more properly introduced herself, "My name is
Ciel… or no, not really. That was a name of another woman entirely, from ages ago. I'm just a program wearing her face and having sort of the same job, really, since the Star-Cell needed me to look like someone in its databanks."
While Sakura was normally calm if a bit nervous, soemthing about what Ciel said made her twitch. "Okay, okay, why do all of you keep going on about how this is all just VR? Like, do you just want to wreck immersion right away?"
"Tohsaka Sakura," Ciel now made direct eye contact with the potential Master, "I, and it seems the other AIs, do not wish to pretend we're anyone we're not. Furthermore, need I remind you you're doing the same thing I am, wearing the guise of a long-ago woman?" The Overseer sighed, then tried to soften her voice, "Immersion's one thing, but the Star-Cell has a responsibility to make sure you don't lose sight of who you are. I mean, look at us, we already took your memories."
That admission of guilt at least made Sakura ease up back to her usual self, before she asked, "Er, okay then, so then could you tell me a little about the outside world? Yeah yeah, I know you can't just give me the answer, but if you're concerned about my identity, some clue could really help me out."
Ciel then smiled. "Why, I already have given you a hint. Inadvertently yes, but still. All my talk about how long ago our original 'selves' ought to let you know that, as far in the future as you think this is, think even further," she said, before she leaned in closer to Sakura, "Alright, since you've actually been one of the more reasonable players I've met, your little tantrum aside, I'll give you another. Think about why the hotel may've chosen the name 'Aquarius', beyond just its connection with cups."
"Ah, th-thank you," Sakura said, then gulped and looked down, "But really, me, one of the 'better' players? No, that can't be, I… got all angry with you just then."
"Oh I meant it, you were quite polite compared to some of the others I've deal with today," Ciel said, then leaned in and conspiratorially whispered, "I can't say much, my programming wouldn't even allow it, but some of the potential Masters I've met today, much as we even have days anymore, have been a real headache. One tried to bribe me with tithes, one complained non-stop about magi not being allowed to run their own affairs, much as 'mages' even exist anymore, and one thought his anti-Christianity made him some sort of genius."
"Wow, that does sound bad," Sakura said the first response that came to mind.
"I am Overseer, so don't worry. Those types are my burden, no need to shoulder yourself with their like," Ciel grinned, but then added, "Unless they're assigned as your opponent for a Round, they'd be your burden then I guess. And it hasn't been all bad for me, I did meet two quite nice players. One was a blue-haired kid, hair a lighter shade than mine, didn't get their name sadly. The other, well, he probably needs no introduction, no less than Felix de Carvalho."
"Felix de Carvalho?" Sakura asked in an instant, showing he did in fact need an introduction.
"The winner of the previous Grail War," it was Beryl who then spoke up, "You may have this war be called 'v2', he was victorious in v1."
"Beryl, you just spoke?" Sakura had to ask, given how Beryl had stayed quiet this whole time.
"It wasn't really my place to speak otherwise, Mistress," Beryl said.
"I confess, I don't do well with maids," Ciel suddenly said, "No idea what it is, something in my coding just has me side-eyeing them. Anyway, as for Felix Carvalho, for a moment I dreaded all the fame had gone to his head, but he actually seemed quite nice. Hasn't told anyone what he wished for last time, but I do suppose that's his prerogative."
"Really? I thought a Grail Wish would've been really noticeable…" Sakura muttered.
As Sakura thanked Ciel and turned to leave, the maid Beryl then brought up, "I naturally suppose you'll be heading back to your room, Mistress. However, if there's still wanderlust in your veins, you may also like to check out our Museum or Library, where all our relics and documents of Heroic Spirits reside."
[ ] Sakura told the maid that yeah, she should be getting to her room already.
[ ] Sakura was interested in the Museum, she did want to start thinking of what sort of Heroic Spirit to summon.
[ ] The Library sounded like a good idea, ought to study up before the War heated up.
[ ] Write-in
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