Chapter Text
“Let steel and silver be the essence.”
In a grand and luxurious penthouse at the top of the most expensive hotel in Fuyuki, part of it converted into a workshop, two mages stood around a glowing circle.
“The foundation stone, and the archduke of contracts.”
One stood tall at the circle’s edge, incanting words of power - hand outstretched as he gently poured a vial of blood upon the circle.
“To my great ancestor, Archibald the first do I pay tribute.”
Despite the unfortunate delay and the stolen catalyst, Lord Kayneth El-Melloi, head of the Archibald family still felt confident. A Lord of the Clock Tower had to be prepared for such missteps, and he was.
“Close the four gates, and erect a wall to block the falling wind.”
At the center of the circle sat a piece of rough, aged wood - any adornment long since rotten away by time - perhaps if it was not found, it would have rotted away completely. Such a thing would seem insignificant to most…
“Come forth from the Crown, and follow the forked road that leads to the Kingdom.”
But not to the two of them. This rotten wood was a shard of the great Argo - the greatest gathering of heroes in this or any world. Kayneth had no doubt - even if his first choice was barred from him, whatever great hero of antiquity answered his call would be more than sufficient.
“Fill. Fill. Fill. Fill. Fill.”
All this could the second mage surmise, as she watched idly from within the circle - her feet planted at two particular nodes of power, runes adjoining the summoning circle drawn on her legs. Sola-Ui Nuada-Re Sophia-Ri, second child of Kayneth’s master, stood perfectly still as she had to for the ritual to complete, staring at the glowing red rune on her betrothed’s right hand.
“Repeat five times, then when each is filled, destroy it.”
When Kayneth had told her of the grand contest of mages he was chosen for, he spoke only of glory. Of the great prestige such a prize as the Holy Grail would grant him. Of how victory would advance not only himself but House El-Melloi in general and the greater Clock Tower’s place of dominance over the world of Magecraft.
“Set.”
Truth be told, she half believed he was doing this to grant the Grail as some kind of wedding present. A flattering gesture, had she any feeling to this man at all. And yet, she thought, as the summoning circle and the runes on her body began to glow red with power…
“Heed our words. Our will creates your body, and your sword creates our destiny.”
It was her idea to modify the ritual, in truth. A simple thing, with Kayneth’s talent - to keep the magical contract his own while binding the mana necessary to incarnate this ‘Servant’ to herself. He had objected, at first, but even he saw the wisdom of the arrangement. Though time without Kayneth’s affections was not an unwelcome thought, this grand conflict of magi and heroes intrigued her.
“If you heed the call of the Holy Grail, obey our will and reason, and answer us.”
Since her brother survived and was granted the Magic Crest, Sola-Ui knew that her only purpose was to assist the family she eventually wed, to bear children powerful enough to carry the family’s Magic Crest. An existence she could tolerate, eventually - far better she serve a great family like the Archibalds in a place of some degree of power than to simply be cast aside like so much trash. The next incantations, she spoke, her smooth voice joining his harsh one-
“We will attain all the virtues in Heaven.”
But it was not an existence she felt any passion for.
“We claim dominion over all the evils of Hell.”
Perhaps this contest could change that. Even as Kayneth spoke of the surety of his victory, the single doubt gnawed at Sola-Ui’s breast.
“Seventh heaven clad in the Great Words of Power,”
For in a great seven-way war, everything was uncertain. And that uncertainty was enticing to her. In this contest, perhaps she could be more than a simple asset.
“From the Binding Circle, come forth, Guardian of the Scales!”
And perhaps she could feel once more, she thought, as the circle flashed with light and wind swirled around the workshop, forcing the window open. A striking pain went through her foot - not enough to make her cry out, as she had expected this, but enough to make her close her eyes for a moment.
And when she opened them, she saw her. The hero that Kayneth had summoned. His previously assured smile had twisted into a frown as he looked down upon the figure before them, a woman in elegant robes of purple and black. Though neither knew what figure would answer their call, they hadn’t expected this - though Sola-Ui quickly realized why, and exactly who she was.
When one rolls the dice on a summoning like this, one receives a Servant most aligned with one’s own self. And Kayneth was a magus whose brilliance matched only his arrogance.
It was only natural that she would answer. The robed figure turned first to Sola-Ui, and then to Kayneth, stating -
“I am the Servant Caster. Which of you is my Master?”
Sola-Ui was right. This was going to be interesting indeed.