To The Beginning IC:ג

[Xellos]

"At least, she is not a Master..." Waver grumbles, and promptly recives a flick to the head. It's an effortless move without much power behind it; relatively. For Waver it's enough to grasp his head in pain.

"Boy "she" is our guest, and she is right here. Learn some manners." As he says that, Waver stares back, too annoyed to stop, despite the pain.

"Says the man who walks around without pants." He grumbles, despite the pain.

"It's the ancient fashion of Greece; and all of your... "Pants" are too tight, regardless." Parries Iscander and swiftly changes the theme." Still, I enjoy hearing what my glory still persists not only in the dusty archives."

Click to shrink...

I get an urge to screw with Waver's head just a little bit more. To say it, or not to say? The urge to do so is almost overpowering, but... it could be misconstrued a little too much. Also, it's not exactly all that relevant to the situation. So I don't vocalize the sentence running through my mind.

'It's okay, I don't mind. I'm technically not wearing pants either.'

...I should probably get some pants, actually. This skirt is awfully comfortable, but I feel like I should get some other clothes. Maybe something in green? Nah, it clashes with the sweater... then just get a green or blue shirt, obviously. Maybe some new shoes as well...

'Wait, what am I thinking? It doesn't really matter.'

"I see." Says Iscander, his expression dead serious. "Who is that?"

Click to shrink...

I too, turn serious, sobering up and banishing the airy thoughts from my head. They're not important right now.

"Gransurg Blackmore. His raven familiars are rather distinctive... your Master should be able to tell you a lot about him. He's known to cooperate with the Mage's Association, from time to time. Given his presence here of all places, I wouldn't be surprised if he was going to try and use the Grail to revive Crimson Moon, or accomplishing some goal he was left by it after its death. He doesn't act unless it's related to that thing."

The words spill out of my mouth without me even consciously recollecting where I heard about it. It's canon info, I'd assume, but it's probably from Arcueid rather than me. I certainly can't recall reading about it, but learning it directly, as if being instructed, or having it downloaded into my head. It's... confusing, where the info comes from. Maybe Gaia told me? That's how Arcueid learns about the modern world, primarily.

'Use the Grail to revive Crimson Moon.'

...I don't think I can allow that. Maybe that thing is this bodies source, but the destruction Crimson Moon would cause if he woke up can't be allowed. More importantly, the easiest way to revive Crimson Moon would be using this body as a vessel, and I doubt there being any room left for me in that case.

 

[Mortifer]

"Well, it appears the encounter was made not 0.634 kilometers away from the entrance point of the sewers. The maps I have generated may not remain accurate, however, for it appears several of the corridors upon which I created the maps are seemingly in control of the enemy, and are able to move on their own."

"We still have, however, an approximate location for where the enemy's presence begins. What would our plan be now?"

Click to shrink...

I blink.

"Well, that was fast." I say. "For a plan... The way I see it, we don't have many options. I can think of two plans off the top of my head."

"For the first, we charge in and kill everything. This probably won't help, but if you have enough Drones, you might be able to send them in and hope that they kill most of Caster's minions, while we follow them."

"The second is to get some aid in attacking Caster. Find another Master that would be willing to stop him, and have them make a plan. Given Caster's earlier stunt, this shouldn't be too hard."

I pause for a minute, thinking of a third possibility.

"Actually, can your drones carry explosives? Because if so, you could get a few of those to try and charge past everything, find Caster's Master, and blow him to smithereens while we do something else, like..."

I suddenly remember what I was going to do before Jason found some of Caster's stuff.

"...Meet Berserker's Master." I turn to Berserker. "That reminds me, does your Master have anything that might help with this? And would he still like to have that meeting now, or wait until we've done something to deal with what's in the sewers?"

 

[Sinsystems]

"I-I-Irisviel, I am driving next time!" You distractedly hear a vaguely, strangely familiar girlish scream from above. You rise you head...

... In the distance, you see a car. It's a fast, white-coloured, expensive-looking car. It's also flies down the road with a speed more suitable to a rocket or a jet, than a mere land-bound vehicle.

The utterly crazy and awe-inspiring level of skill that it should have taken to drive a car at such speeds through such a terrain without suffering a catastrophe catastrophe must have been superhuman, and yet, it fails to not save the driver as the car flies off after a sharp turn gone wrong.

With a horrible screech of burning tires and sound of a metal breaking and tearing apart, the white missle breaks through the roadwall like it's not even there only to fly off the cliff into the deep darkness below. Quite literally fly, you notice, as it flips through the air in manner right out of the Hollywood stages tricks, as is like it desperately clings in the last attept to stay in the air.

It's also flies - or more accurately, falls - right at you at the speed suitable for a armed missle, as you belately notice.

Click to shrink...

Everything seems to freeze as I watched the car come flying towards us, in that instant I recognize the car and considering how crazy a driver you have to be to have been going at that speed on that road a single thought deadpans in my mind.

'Mom must be driving that'

I eyeball the car and make sure that it isn't going to suddenly fly in my direction when I dodge. At this rate, once it hits the ground it's going to roll forwards before it hits a tree.

With this in mind, I leap to safety, dodging the impromptu projectile and watch as it follows its course. I set Illya down once I'm sure we're in the clear. She's probably going to want us to check on the drivers anyhow.

Click to shrink...

However the moment passed as I felt Alter dodge out of the way, it was moments like this that I was glad for Ruby providing some physical protection otherwise the sudden movement probably would've hurt.

However I was more focused on the car and it's most likely rough landing, so focused in fact that the moment Alter put me down I bolted to the spot where it had stopped and begun searching for mom..

Saber​

and I don't know why but I had a feeling that this Saber person who I was supposed to protect would be in there as well.​

 

[Narcissist]

Everything seems to freeze as I watched the car come flying towards us, in that instant I recognize the car and considering how crazy a driver you have to be to have been going at that speed on that road a single thought deadpans in my mind.

'Mom must be driving that'

However the moment passed as I felt Alter dodge out of the way, it was moments like this that I was glad for Ruby providing some physical protection otherwise the sudden movement probably would've hurt.

However I was more focused on the car and it's most likely rough landing, so focused in fact that the moment Alter put me down I bolted to the spot where it had stopped and begun searching for mom..

Saber​

and I don't know why but I had a feeling that this Saber person who I was supposed to protect would be in there as well.​

Click to shrink...

I sigh with exasperation as I follow Illya to the wreckage. It didn't even take her two seconds before she ran off to go check the wreckage. Must be a magical girl thing. Looking at the ruined vehicle, I doubt that anyone survived that.

Even as I follow Illya, there's something in the back of my mind that tells me to be cautious. It feels similar to the feeling Kuro gives me for some reason. Not quite pressure in my mind, but more pins and needles than I'm comfortable with.

I'm not scared or anything. Compared to Hercules and everything that has led me / us to this point, this is nothing. But it doesn't hurt to be careful. That's why I follow slowly behind Illya, watching for trouble and ready to snatch her up and leave if something goes awry.

 

[ChiefTurtle117]

Pieces of brain matter and blood burst from Valorian's exit. "Disgusting" Imperius proclamation watching the display and I freely agreed with the statement. Then the carcass started dissolving beginning from the entrance wound, extending to the tentacle tips and finally vanished.

With the monster dead, I rose to the surface and looking around I saw water everywhere except in some distance to the south the coast and a harbor with several ships docked in were barely visible.

"The monster was not of this world, it was summoned here from elsewhere. Only someone with knowledge of other realms of existence could have called it forth." Imperius stated.

That does make sense, it wasn't natural by any means, while there are several people that could have summoned it I know of only one that for sure who is in the city right now. Caster.

"The cultist has the power and the means to bring the beast here, he must be killed before anymore of the abominations are summoned to this world".

Right, the Caster's base was located in the sewers underneath the city by Waver somewhere near the bridge. Have to get there without getting noticed, demateriazling my armor i released my essence and turned into light.

Flying toward land i looked for the tunnel entrance

 

[SlugSLinger]

As I lay there, my head of living steel upon the cold marble floor, I come to the realization that I am utterly bored.

Darkness must fall.​

I couldn't turn my head, so my vision was locked only at the door and the fuzzy feeling of something scratching at my mind.

Heh. Don't listen to that old fucker. Do whatever you want.​

Strange, it felt the same like the time when Ling tried to break my mind through a heavy mental assault. It the same when he tried to force me to attack Saber and hunt down Caster. It's like, someone's touching you...​

Who are you? Leave! No way! You leave!​

...Only, it in two different places.
This is my body, I dictate who remains! You cannot remain here, villain!
Like, one guy is touch your left hand, and another guy is touching the other.

Villain? Hah! You're one to talk, you hypocrite!​

One is familiar, the other is... Even more familiar.
That matter not. You though, must leave!
Like, some kind of dream. Yeah, that's the best analogy I could come up with. A particularly pleasant dream you can remember for days. Even years later, you can remember it, though in fragments and pieces. But it's still there. Like a memory.​

Hey, I got here first. You should get in queue, fool. He's mine.​

Meh, it's probably Ling up to something. He'll quiet down eventually.
We shall see about that, monster.​

 

[Prospalz]

I sigh with exasperation

Click to shrink...

and I don't know why but I had a feeling that this Saber person who I was supposed to protect would be in there as well.​

Click to shrink...

The car before you is wrecked indeed. It's a pitiful picture; the parts of the formely expensive noble vehicle scattered around the clearing you found yourself in, and the main frame was stopped from going furture by an old, one-hundred years old tree; now lying on the ground upside down with wheels still slowly moving as a dead, skinned animal what didn't quite realised it's death yet.

Netherless, something seems to be still alive inside; you recognize a familiar glow of alchemical magic, signifying what a magi able to maintain them survived the crush.

Then, suddenly, without much warning, the whatever left of the car explodes.

There is no fire, or smoke - it's a pure kinetic energy of thousands raging winds compressed into one magical sheath by a mighty King, and then released in a one explosive moment.

Despite that, the explosion is great enough to literally tear and smash the the remains of the car apart, rising the clouds of dust in the process.

As the winds calms down, and the dusts settles, you can make out a figure right where wrecked car...was left a few seconds ago, gently holding something.

"Irisviel, next time, I'll drive." You hear the familiar voice of a Arturia Pendragon, slightly panting and laced with both frustration and relief.

And as the dust settles, you clearly see her figure; Sabar stands in the clearing gently holding Irisviel in her hands. The Lesser Grail of the fourth war is covered in the same threads you have seen her once using on Kuro; it seems, they shielded her from impact. Even so, she seems to be shacken somewhat.

And on this note, both Servant Saber and her friend finally notice you.

"...Mordred?"

"...Illya?"

They seems to recognize you.

 

[Narcissist]

The car before you is wrecked indeed. It's a pitiful picture; the parts of the formely expensive noble vehicle scattered around the clearing you found yourself in, and the main frame was stopped from going furture by an old, one-hundred years old tree; now lying on the ground upside down with wheels still slowly moving as a dead, skinned animal what didn't quite realised it's death yet.

Netherless, something seems to be still alive inside; you recognize a familiar glow of alchemical magic, signifying what a magi able to maintain them survived the crush.

Then, suddenly, without much warning, the whatever left of the car explodes.

There is no fire, or smoke - it's a pure kinetic energy of thousands raging winds compressed into one magical sheath by a mighty King, and then released in a one explosive moment.

Despite that, the explosion is great enough to literally tear and smash the the remains of the car apart, rising the clouds of dust in the process.

As the winds calms down, and the dusts settles, you can make out a figure right where wrecked car...was left a few seconds ago, gently holding something.

"Irisviel, next time, I'll drive." You hear the familiar voice of a Arturia Pendragon, slightly panting and laced with both frustration and relief.

And as the dust settles, you clearly see her figure; Sabar stands in the clearing gently holding Irisviel in her hands. The Lesser Grail of the fourth war is covered in the same threads you have seen her once using on Kuro; it seems, they shielded her from impact. Even so, she seems to be shacken somewhat.

And on this note, both Servant Saber and her friend finally notice you.

"...Mordred?"

"...Illya?"

They seems to recognize you.

Click to shrink...

A surge of anger flows from within, the assumption that I could be the bastard child of Morgan stings more than mere words ought to. My hands clench into fists at just the mention of that name. I bite down a scathing remark. My other self, Arturia, would know nothing at this point. Not to mention the added perspective that I was granted…

I sigh, closing my eyes to focus and bring my selves back into balance.

When my eyes open, I take the opportunity to look at her. To drink in the sight of the old self of my other half.
King Arthur…

Even with her suit damaged from the crash, her hair slightly disheveled from the wreckage, she was still… pristine. Free from the corruption of Angra Mainyu, her eyes remain a brilliant green and her skin much less pale in comparison to my own. I remember looking like that once. A long time ago, back on the hills in Camlann.

And I know that I hate her because of that. No… perhaps hate is too strong of a word. My feelings towards her are too complicated to be simplified to just one.

"You mistake me for another." I respond to her with muted emotion. For just a moment, my mind contemplates introducing myself as King Arthur, but the moment is fleeting and I pass on that idea. For now at least.

 

[Sinsystems]

And as the dust settles, you clearly see her figure; Sabar stands in the clearing gently holding Irisviel in her hands. The Lesser Grail of the fourth war is covered in the same threads you have seen her once using on Kuro; it seems, they shielded her from impact. Even so, she seems to be shacken somewhat.

And on this note, both Servant Saber and her friend finally notice you.

"...Mordred?"

"...Illya?"

They seems to recognize you.

Click to shrink...

For just a moment I stood there frozen, relieved at seeing mom safe and sound. Admittedly she had just been in a car accident due to her insane driving but that was normal.

Okay let's see if the dice are in my favor today​

However the overpowering relief I felt wasn't, ever since I got here i'd been worried about mom's safety, afraid of what might happen to her if I didn't find her in time.​

Huh looks like she failed a will save, let's see what happens.​

B-but now she was right here in front of me safe, it made me so happy that I could...I could ..."Mom!!" I cried giving my mother a hug the tears of joy running freely down my cheeks.​

....damn this girl is cute.​

 

[Prospalz]

"Gransurg Blackmore. His raven familiars are rather distinctive... your Master should be able to tell you a lot about him. He's known to cooperate with the Mage's Association, from time to time. Given his presence here of all places, I wouldn't be surprised if he was going to try and use the Grail to revive Crimson Moon, or accomplishing some goal he was left by it after its death. He doesn't act unless it's related to that thing."

Click to shrink...

"But he should have been imprisoned by the church?!" Waver rises his voice again. "There is no chance in hell he managed to break out of the Vatican...by himself, at least. "

"Regardless of whatever happened, he is here." Rider concludes. "And he is a problem. Still, For some reason, you did not dealt with him in the same manner as you usually destroy obstacles what stands before you."

He pauses for a second, then continues, sounding vaguely satisfied.

"Do tell me if I am mistaken, but you must be seeking allies. If so, you have came to right place."

A second later, there is an interruption.

"Excuse me; but you probably don't want to stay here, right?" Waver asks hopefully as realizes something. "There is a lot of better places to stay in this city."

"Safety in numbers, people were saying my time. " Rider quips.

"Well, if safety means massive colleteral damage and absolutely not reinforced position, then, by all means."

For a second, Rider looks like he want's to say something; but then he sighs.

"My master does has a point, sadly. These people are hardly involved into the War, and you seems to have a trail of enemies what are not likely to care much about innocent victims."

Waver looks like he wants to comment, but decides against it.

"...Meet Berserker's Master." I turn to Berserker. "That reminds me, does your Master have anything that might help with this? And would he still like to have that meeting now, or wait until we've done something to deal with what's in the sewers?"

Click to shrink...

[Nothing besides familiars. No Preferences. Master of Lancer, Hyatt Hotel. Some rich Magus. Might help?] Berserker carefully writes on the ground.

Flying toward land i looked for the tunnel entrance

Click to shrink...

You find one, rather quickly.

The surprisingly big entrance into the sewers is not specifically hidden, or defended. Still, you hear faint animalistic sounds from inside; something alive is there, hiding in the darkness and it's not does not sounds like a human at all.

Tentacles.

Click to shrink...

You jump.

With great, supremely focused effort, you put your everything into running away. The clawed tentacles grasped at you, the sea of flash moved to drag you down, and Caster himself could only helpessly watch as you get away.

Minutes later, you escaped; the mass of monsters despite being a formidabble foe - mostly due to the numbers - wasn't exactly truly fast or coordinated enough to get you.

 

[Borrowing]

As I lay there, my head of living steel upon the cold marble floor, I come to the realization that I am utterly bored.
Darkness must fall.
I couldn't turn my head, so my vision was locked only at the door and the fuzzy feeling of something scratching at my mind.

Heh. Don't listen to that old fucker. Do whatever you want.​

Strange, it felt the same like the time when Ling tried to break my mind through a heavy mental assault. It the same when he tried to force me to attack Saber and hunt down Caster. It's like, someone's touching you...

Who are you? Leave! No way! You leave!​

...Only, it in two different places.
This is my body, I dictate who remains! You cannot remain here, villain!
Like, one guy is touch your left hand, and another guy is touching the other.

Villain? Hah! You're one to talk, you hypocrite!​

One is familiar, the other is... Even more familiar.
That matter not. You though, must leave!
Like, some kind of dream. Yeah, that's the best analogy I could come up with. A particularly pleasant dream you can remember for days. Even years later, you can remember it, though in fragments and pieces. But it's still there. Like a memory.

Hey, I got here first. You should get in queue, fool. He's mine.​

Meh, it's probably Ling up to something. He'll quiet down eventually.
We shall see about that, monster.

Click to shrink...

A few rooms over, Kuro stares at you, tapping her foot.

 

[Mortifer]

[Nothing besides familiars. No Preferences. Master of Lancer, Hyatt Hotel. Some rich Magus. Might help?] Berserker carefully writes on the ground.

Click to shrink...

Hyatt Hotel. Kayneth? That might not end well... From what I remember, Kayneth was an arse, and he didn't have any problem going after Kiritsugu after the Church declared a Truce until Caster's defeat in Canon.

On the other hand... Kiritsugu probably did something in Canon to piss him off which I'm forgetting. And Lancer would be extremely useful against Caster, with his Spear that ignores Magic. Assuming that we had Canon Lancer here.

And besides, I don't rally have any excuse not to agree with this.

"Maybe." I reply. "I'll go ask him for his help, unless Jason has any objections."

 

[Xellos]

"But he should have been imprisoned by the church?!" Waver rises his voice again. "There is no chance in hell he managed to break out of the Vatican...by himself, at least. "

"Regardless of whatever happened, he is here." Rider concludes. "And he is a problem. Still, For some reason, you did not dealt with him in the same manner as you usually destroy obstacles what stands before you."

He pauses for a second, then continues, sounding vaguely satisfied.

"Do tell me if I am mistaken, but you must be seeking allies. If so, you have came to right place."

A second later, there is an interruption.

"Excuse me; but you probably don't want to stay here, right?" Waver asks hopefully as realizes something. "There is a lot of better places to stay in this city."

"Safety in numbers, people were saying my time. " Rider quips.

"Well, if safety means massive colleteral damage and absolutely not reinforced position, then, by all means."

For a second, Rider looks like he want's to say something; but then he sighs.

"My master does has a point, sadly. These people are hardly involved into the War, and you seems to have a trail of enemies what are not likely to care much about innocent victims."

Waver looks like he wants to comment, but decides against it.

Click to shrink...

Waver's right. I can't think of any way that Gransurg could have escaped his custom built prison from the Church by himself. The Holy Church knows what it's doing, it's pretty much impossible for a vampire sealed by them to escape. But, as sure as I am that Gransurg couldn't have escaped his prison unaided, I'm just as sure that he's here in Fuyuki. 'Arcueid' definitely recognized that raven as one of his. Which is odd. That definitely didn't happen in the original universe, and I haven't changed that much yet, have I? But, perhaps there's another way he could be here.

'Stop. Occam time.'

I'm already aware of one Nasuverse character who never appeared in Fate Zero or related materials who's here in Fuyuki in spite of all logic, who isn't quite the real one. It's entirely possible that the 'Gransurg' who is here in Fuyuki is just like me. Someone from the real world with Gransurg's memories, powers, and appearance, but with an outside perspective. If that's the case, I probably should have stuck around and talked to him when his ravens showed him where I was. Could have gained a potential ally in the same situation as me. But then again, we may have had mutually incompatible goals.

I'll shelve this line of self-questioning until I have more information on 'Gransurg'.

Okay, Rider just made an offer of becoming allies. I wouldn't mind being an ally with Rider, but there's a problem. Even if he helps me deal with my potential Mystery Raven Vampire who may or may not be the real Gransurg Blackmore problem, I'm not sure I can pay him back for it properly. If we become allies, he'll expect me to help win him and Waver the Grail. It's only logical, after all. Specifically, he'll want my help winning the corrupt Grail. The corrupt Grail whose mortal vessel is something that I need to die to fulfill my stated objective, and it needs to happen before one of Rider's rivals kicks the bucket. So as much as I like Rider and Waver, I can't ally with them without juggling an insane set of almost, but not quite, mutually incompatible goals, or outright betraying them down the road.

And what Waver and Rider say next makes my heart freeze. They're right. They're absolutely right. I can't stay here without putting the innocent elderly couple living here in grave danger. Assuming it is the real Gransurg, he'll be looking for me. And he's a Dead Apostle, requiring human blood for the continued survival of him and his minions, rather than to fulfill some insane, psychological compulsion. He'll kill them if he finds them here for sure. There's no reason for him not to.

"...Thank you for the offer, Rider, but I think Waver is right. I can't stay here. Not without putting the people living here at risk. To be honest, it was a pure accident that I came to this particular house in the first place."

My recent actions in coming in here were foolish and shortsighted. I didn't do them because it would be helpful or logical. I did them because I wanted to meet Rider. I should have left the moment I saw Waver answer the door. I shouldn't have lied to Martha just to stay here for a bit. But even Arcueid can't change events that have already occurred. I stand up.

"I should probably leave now, to be honest. Just... you two be careful. I doubt the next week or so is going to be as simple or easy as the last three wars would have been."

With that, it's time to leave, but there's one last thing.

"...By the way, can I borrow a map of Fuyuki city?"

 

[SlugSLinger]

A few rooms over, Kuro stares at you, tapping her foot.

Click to shrink...

I remain silent, gathering ambient prana and storing it in my reserves. She wasn't exactly doing anything and I was content on letting her stare.

A whip to the jugular, an arrow to the nape of the neck, maybe a Stopga spell...​

Maybe if I kept silent, she'd think I was a sleep. Yes, ignore me and go find your little Master.
Expand your plans. Have secondaries and contingencies...
Hmm... Maybe I could... Yes, just maybe...

I concentrate and my will reaches out to the pile of metal that had once been my body...

 

[AMCS]

"Maybe." I reply. "I'll go ask him for his help, unless Jason has any objections."

Click to shrink...

Combat Unit JSN-117 "Jason"
Mark XXX Bolo

I ponder the question for 0.4 seconds, before stating my response.

"I possess no objections to such a decision. The bigger question is whether the master is willing to permit me to arrive in the form of my drones, as it is supremely impractical for me to arrive in my main hull."

It would be wise to find help, for the sight of the monstrosities I witnessed in the sewers is not a fight I would like to engage unless I had a good amount of back-up...

 

[Prospalz]

"Maybe." I reply. "I'll go ask him for his help, unless Jason has any objections."

Click to shrink...

Berserker shifts from one leg to other, awkwardly.

[Alone?]

Regardless of your answer, a few minutes later you find yourself nearly the Hyatt Hotel. A grand building in the bussiness part of the city; a hight-class hotel built for the rich tourists.

Many floors above you, somewhere at the top floors, you feel a strong bounded field come to life.

Nothing else seems out of ordinary on the first glance. No signs of Servants either.

"...Thank you for the offer, Rider, but I think Waver is right. I can't stay here. Not without putting the people living here at risk. To be honest, it was a pure accident that I came to this particular house in the first place."

"I should probably leave now, to be honest. Just... you two be careful. I doubt the next week or so is going to be as simple or easy as the last three wars would have been."

With that, it's time to leave, but there's one last thing.

"...By the way, can I borrow a map of Fuyuki city?"

Click to shrink...

"Such a pity." Rider sighs sadly, after hearing you answer. "Regardless, once we secure these grounds; we still could be allies."

Waver's keeps his face perfectly blank as he stands up.

"A map... Wait a minute."

He walks in the corner of the room and starts digging in one of the boxes with his magical equipment. A minute later, he returns with a map in hand.

"I get this one when I was thinking about where to stay... I have marked on the map few places where I considered staying during the war for one reason or another. The place we are currently stayed marked by green marker."

"That's pretty clever of you."

"That's just common sense." Waver mumbles, handing the map over to you.

....damn this girl is cute.​

Click to shrink...

"Irisviel!"

Everything happens too fast; Illiasviel is too confused to properly react, Saber rising her voice in warning... And then you glomp the Grail vessel, almost knocking her off her feet.

"Illiya... What are doing here?" She answers weakly, and then after a second, adds "...Are you Illiya?"

"Irisviel, this might be a trick." Her exasparated friend walks closer to the both of you.

"Well, if this was trick, I'd probably already would have been dead by now, right? And you can guard me against anything else. Like Servants."

Unsurprisingly, the speech did nothing to smoother Saber's worries.

"Irisviel, this woman is a Servant."

"...Oh."

 

[Narcissist]

"Irisviel!"

Everything happens too fast; Illiasviel is too confused to properly react, Saber rising her voice in warning... And then you glomp the Grail vessel, almost knocking her off her feet.

"Illiya... What are doing here?" She answers weakly, and then after a second, adds "...Are you Illiya?"

"Irisviel, this might be a trick." Her exasparated friend walks closer to the both of you.

"Well, if this was trick, I'd probably already would have been dead by now, right? And you can guard me against anything else. Like Servants."

Unsurprisingly, the speech did nothing to smoother Saber's worries.

"Irisviel, this woman is a Servant."

"...Oh."

Click to shrink...

I look over towards Saber, considering my options. It isn't exactly wrong for her to be mistrusting of someone wearing her face. The last person who did that caused great harm to not only us, but to our kingdom. But how can I get her to let a mother and daughter reconnect?

I ponder this question over and over, placing my hand on my jaw as I consider it. I have Arturia at a disadvantage. I know more about her than anyone besides her should really know. Introducing myself to her as King Arthur will put us on somewhat even grounds.

But you know what? I don't really want to be on even grounds. She's only half of who I am, and the other half seem doesn't want to give up something like that so easily.

"I am Servant Saber. On my honor, I swear I mean you no harm." I answer the accusation in a soft-spoken demeanor. Though words may not be the best means of placating potential enemies, they are all I have right now. Hopefully a fight will be avoided, while I'm sure my master is capable of defending herself in her current position. I would rather not have her in the fray.

Looking over Irisviel brings forth a strange nostalgia, memories and feelings half forgotten by Saber, good and bad. They're enough to make a girl smile, and smile I did.

"It's good to see that the mother of my master is in good health." I begin with a delighted tone. "You look much better than the last time I saw you." I should probably reign that half of my memories in, but what I'm feeling right now are legitimately good emotions, something that this night has been sorely lacking up till now. I'll keep these feelings going for as long as I can.

 

[Xellos]

"Such a pity." Rider sighs sadly, after hearing you answer. "Regardless, once we secure these grounds; we still could be allies."

Click to shrink...

I nod. Knowing what I do about Rider's personality, there's a good chance we will become allies in the future... I think. Maybe after I can get some proof of the problems with the Grail that it would make logical sense for me to uncover, he and Waver will probably be some of the first people I reveal it too. "I'll keep it in mind."

Waver's keeps his face perfectly blank as he stands up.

"A map... Wait a minute."

He walks in the corner of the room and starts digging in one of the boxes with his magical equipment. A minute later, he returns with a map in hand.

"I get this one when I was thinking about where to stay... I have marked on the map few places where I considered staying during the war for one reason or another. The place we are currently stayed marked by green marker."

"That's pretty clever of you."

"That's just common sense." Waver mumbles, handing the map over to you.

Click to shrink...

I take the map out of his hands, taking a quick scan of it. It should be useful for finding out where the hell I am, particularly in relation to Waver's 'safehouse'. And some of these other places marked may be where other Master's are residing or using as hideouts. Did he mark where the three families of the beginning reside? I remember the location of the Einzbern, Tohsaka, and Matou estates being common knowledge of the other participants of the war.

Added to Inventory: Waver's Map of Fuyuki (1)

I take a quick look over it for anything interesting right now before rolling it up so that it isn't dangling as an open piece of paper. I don't have pockets, or even a handbag really, so I suppose I'll just have to hold on to it for now.

"Thank you, Waver, Rider. It's time for me to get going. I suppose I owe you two a favor now, so if you need anything later, you need only ask."

And with that, I leave through the exit I spotted earlier. A window. Casually opening it, and jumping out, landing on the ground outside. There was no reason to go down through the center room and out the door. Belatedly, I release that I never told Waver about the 'backstory' shared by us that I gave to the old lady. Eh, he can handle it. She wasn't the one who broke hypnosis anyway, so he can probably maintain his cover fairly easily.

Now, let's see what's on this map..?

 

[Mortifer]

Berserker shifts from one leg to other, awkwardly.

[Alone?]

Click to shrink...

I shrug.

"I was going to. You can come, if you want, though the Master might not react well to seeing a Servant coming for him."​

 

[Sinsystems]

"Irisviel!"

Everything happens too fast; Illiasviel is too confused to properly react, Saber rising her voice in warning... And then you glomp the Grail vessel, almost knocking her off her feet.

"Illiya... What are doing here?" She answers weakly, and then after a second, adds "...Are you Illiya?"

"Irisviel, this might be a trick." Her exasparated friend walks closer to the both of you.

"Well, if this was trick, I'd probably already would have been dead by now, right? And you can guard me against anything else. Like Servants."

Unsurprisingly, the speech did nothing to smoother Saber's worries.

"Irisviel, this woman is a Servant."

"...Oh."

Click to shrink...

"It's me mom, it's me." I said between relieved sobs, the tears were flowing freely. "I was so worried that something might've happened to you or dad, even with Saber, Mr Ling and Onee-chan helping I was afraid I wouldn't be able to find you in time."

Slowly my tears dried up and I looked up into my mothers eyes a relieved smile on my face. Before a thought occurred to me, Ling and Kuro are waiting at the castle for mom or dad to arrive so we'll probably need to go get them. "Also umm we tried waiting at the castle but go attacked by this swarm of birds, Onee-chan and Mr Ling chose to stay behind while we went looking in case you arrived while we were out."

 

[Lealope]

You jump.

With great, supremely focused effort, you put your everything into running away. The clawed tentacles grasped at you, the sea of flash moved to drag you down, and Caster himself could only helpessly watch as you get away.

Minutes later, you escaped; the mass of monsters despite being a formidabble foe - mostly due to the numbers - wasn't exactly truly fast or coordinated enough to get you.

Click to shrink...

I need a shower. Or maybe I should just pour bleach directly into my brain. I shuddered as I frolicked my way across the roof tops of the town. "So Caster was a bust. What now? I suppose I could try find any other poor assholes that have been dumped in here. Or what about that serial killer motherfucker. Either way, some more intel wouldn't hurt." In a stunning display of sanity, I said to myself as climb up the tallest structure in the city.

"Feanor, what do your elf eyes see?" I said as I scanned the city, looking for unusual events.

 

[SlugSLinger]

...I'm starting to regret my decision to wait here for Ilya's parents. I never liked waiting in the first place, but then I was raised in an environment where patience was a must to survive, so I learned how to curb my enthusiasm and found other ways to vent my pent up energy. One method was by doing mental exercises.

Oh, lookie here.​

I'd settle into a trance and run my mind through mental activities. I'd plan, I re-enact scenes from my favorite movies, anime or even comics. I'd let my imagination go wild, let my muse craft the most harebrained schemes and ideas, make ideas for potential one-shot fanfictions or short stories, or I'd just sift through memories and contemplate on what could've been.​

A little closer...​

What could've happened if I took a left instead of a right. What could've happened if I fired a salvo of Blizzaras instead of Firas at Ilya during our duel earlier today. What other options would've been available to me if I focused more on defense rather than offense. What the girls would've done if I stayed on the ground and not jump upwards to get a better vantage point to fire at them. Why I attacked them while I could've gone straight for the church and blew it to smithereens using an Ultima Cannon shot. Sure, there would've been ridiculous collateral damage done and countless lives lost, but if it gave me an edge against the others...
No! Don't listen to the fiend, young one! Resist!
Wait... Where the hell did that come from?​

Come now. Don't listen to that hunk of living steel. This is a war. In war, you either survive or die.​

No. No, I should've gone and did that first. Destroying the church would've unlocked Ling's power and enable me to survive against even the Servants. The Masters wouldn't be too much trouble afterwards, but the other Sv'ers...
No! Get a hold of yourself!
Wait, fuck, what am I saying? What's gotten into me? Why the hell am I-​

It's okay man. Its war. No-one can blame you if you did what you had to do.​

-still here and not going after my objective? I need to stop dilly-dallying and-
Listen to yourself! To your Heart! Do not make the same mistakes I did!
-get my head out of the gutter and focus! Stop thinking murderous thoughts and-​

Its not a mistake. Its a method to keep yourself from dying. Do you want to die?​

-reform my body and get moving. The objective is not too far and one shot from my Ultima Cannon will-
Resist! Fight back! Face the Light!
-kill innocent people! I'll be branded a mass murderer and hunted down like vermin! I can't-​

Give in. Surrender. Follow the Dark.​

-remain here. Mission directives must be fulfilled-
Hold strong! Stay true!
-I am not a monster! I am not-​

Break open. Stray far.​

-I am. I kill for survival. For the mission. I am-
Stay with the Light!
-I am-​

Give in to the Dark.​

-I am-

I am...​

 

[Borrowing]

...I'm starting to regret my decision to wait here for Ilya's parents. I never liked waiting in the first place, but then I was raised in an environment where patience was a must to survive, so I learned how to curb my enthusiasm and found other ways to vent my pent up energy. One method was by doing mental exercises.

Oh, lookie here.​

I'd settle into a trance and run my mind through mental activities. I'd plan, I re-enact scenes from my favorite movies, anime or even comics. I'd let my imagination go wild, let my muse craft the most harebrained schemes and ideas, make ideas for potential one-shot fanfictions or short stories, or I'd just sift through memories and contemplate on what could've been.

A little closer...​

What could've happened if I took a left instead of a right. What could've happened if I fired a salvo of Blizzaras instead of Firas at Ilya during our duel earlier today. What other options would've been available to me if I focused more on defense rather than offense. What the girls would've done if I stayed on the ground and not jump upwards to get a better vantage point to fire at them. Why I attacked them while I could've gone straight for the church and blew it to smithereens using an Ultima Cannon shot. Sure, there would've been ridiculous collateral damage done and countless lives lost, but if it gave me an edge against the others...
No! Don't listen to the fiend, young one! Resist!
Wait... Where the hell did that come from?

Come now. Don't listen to that hunk of living steel. This is a war. In war, you either survive or die.​

No. No, I should've gone and did that first. Destroying the church would've unlocked Ling's power and enable me to survive against even the Servants. The Masters wouldn't be too much trouble afterwards, but the other Sv'ers...
No! Get a hold of yourself!
Wait, fuck, what am I saying? What's gotten into me? Why the hell am I-

It's okay man. Its war. No-one can blame you if you did what you had to do.​

-still here and not going after my objective? I need to stop dilly-dallying and-
Listen to yourself! To your Heart! Do not make the same mistakes I did!
-get my head out of the gutter and focus! Stop thinking murderous thoughts and-

Its not a mistake. Its a method to keep yourself from dying. Do you want to die?​

-reform my body and get moving. The objective is not too far and one shot from my Ultima Cannon will-
Resist! Fight back! Face the Light!
-kill innocent people! I'll be branded a mass murderer and hunted down like vermin! I can't-

Give in. Surrender. Follow the Dark.​

-remain here. Mission directives must be fulfilled-
Hold strong! Stay true!
-I am not a monster! I am not-

Break open. Stray far.​

-I am. I kill for survival. For the mission. I am-
Stay with the Light!
-I am-

Give in to the Dark.​

-I am-

I am...

Click to shrink...

"SNAP OUT OF IT!" you hear a loud voice shout.

 

[ChiefTurtle117]

You find one, rather quickly.
The surprisingly big entrance into the sewers is not specifically hidden, or defended. Still, you hear faint animalistic sounds from inside; something alive is there, hiding in the darkness and it's not does not sounds like a human at all.

Click to shrink...

Well that was fast, i didn't expect to find an entrance this fast but now for the hard part, there are no signs of Caster's water demons in sight but from the sound of things they're in the tunnel alright. From what i remember, the creatures are going to be a pain to fight especially with their regeneration and spawning from their dead. It's really too bad that i can't bulldoze through them like Rider did, I'm gonna have to stack the deck in my favor.

Magic will be my trump card here, with the use of several lightning spells like Static Field and Chain lightning paired with Paladin Auras, I could fight past the demons and get to Caster. Killing him would get rid of the summoned monsters, but on the chance that he isn't here, his master would do just fine before retreating with teleportation .

"Defensive Aura's will is to be especially useful if you intend to cast multiple spells in a quick succession" Imperius stated. "Yes mana regeneration would be helpful" i nodded.

Kneeling I meditated and prayed to the Light briefly, focusing my mind I summoned both holy and arcane power, then channeled the energy into an Aura of cold. Solarion's gained a blue glow and the air chilled as Holy Freeze took effect, at the same time bolts of electricity came into existence and moved in circles around me.

With more arcane spells and holy powers ready to come, I entered the tunnel .

 

[SlugSLinger]

"SNAP OUT OF IT!" you hear a loud voice shout.

Click to shrink...

The whispers cease, and I stop doing whatever it was I was doing earlier. My head pounds as though someone had just hit it with a massive hammer and is currently hitting it again with bricks. I focus through the pain and block out the voices. Shit, what happened? Where was I

"K-Kuro?" I slur the words. My head hurts too much to think properly. "W-where are we? What h-happened?"