“Sigh…”
I took another glance at my cellphone but the time display had only showed the passage of a few minutes.
“Sigh…”
No matter how often it happened I still couldn’t quite get used to the idea of these long waits during missions. Or maybe it was stress that was building up over the past few weeks?
Another meaningless glance at my phone and then I glanced around the waiting lounge of the hospital, still no sign of him. When would he arrive?
Assassin was still watching the outside of the building and would inform me should he show up, I knew this all too well but I was beginning to feel anxious. Would he even bother to show up?
I couldn’t take this much longer, I needed to calm down, to keep my focus, flipping open the phone I typed a short but precise message to my contact on the outside while my thoughts continued to wander.
*********************************************************************************
I remember the first time I ever laid eyes on her. What was supposed to be just another evening in that ‘place’ turned into an event that would shape the rest of my life. Confused and disoriented I had no idea how to react when I opened my eyes and saw her face.
How could I? My mind was dead, all I could do was stare at her with blank open eyes.
“It’s alright, you’re safe now. I’ll do everything I can to protect you, so don’t worry.”
That was the first thing she said to me, a simple phrase, but her gentle embrace made those words all the more sincere. But even then I still could not believe the situation I was in, everything felt like a dream. This kind of thing shouldn’t happen to a person like me, but she made it sound as if everything would truly be alright.
So even if it was only for a moment, I allowed myself to fall into her embrace. That was the first time I ever met the woman who would soon become my mother. That was the first time I would ever meet Maiya Emiya.
*******************************************************************************
Over the years I learned various skills under my new mother and adoptive father Kiritsugu Emiya a man with only one arm. Apparently he had lost it during one of his missions, but he would never say which mission of how it happened and it wasn’t within my right to ask. Together along with my new sister we learned various skills in the art of combat and survival much to Kiritsugu’s reluctance.
He was so against it in fact that at first he outright refused the thought of teaching us magic. But in the end he was won over after insistence from Maiya, back then I couldn’t figure out just what she had told him to change his mind like that, but now I realize it.
Myself and my sister, we were special. Compared to other magi we had enormous capacity to grow. And that would make us targets against those would seek to use us for their own personal gain. He had to give us these skills, allow us to grow or else our chances of survival would be slim.
It was during this period of time that I learned where my skills lay. I had the power to control the imaginary, spirits, and beings that were not innate to this world. With my hands I could create powerful familiars, beings that could imitate the looks of feel of humans but they themselves could never truly be alive.
My teacher was smart with her methods, she taught me that magic was not the only way to obtain victory. Sometimes the simplest option was the best, and thus I learned how to wield firearms, drive vehicles, arm explosives, craft that most normal magi would consider barbaric I learned to use without a second thought.
If I was going to survive I had to do everything within my means to accomplish that goal, I either hunted or was hunted, that was how I lived for nearly fifteen years.
My sister on the other hand was different, her body was special, her connection to a unique magic called wishcraft was so strong that she disliked the use of such simple firearms. Much preferring to rely on her great magical capacity which far exceeded even my own and allowed her to accomplish the tasks that I could, without the need of most modern equipment. She did however, take a liking to various automobiles, in particular the faster they could go the more she appreciated them. Her skills behind the wheel on the other hand were rather harsh and extreme, something that her normally calm and elegant demeanor would normally never show.
My new ‘father’ on the other hand was someone I could never truly read. When he spoke his voice was often calm but controlled, as if every word of his was carefully spoken in order to never allow a glimpse of a weakness. This was one of the methods that he had trained with his entire life, one of the reasons I would later find out that he got the name, the Magus Killer.
Despite surviving with only one arm his skills with his equipment far exceeded my own even on my best days. Perhaps it was simply experience but deep down I could never agree with that assessment. It was as if these weapons of death were his very life and soul, without them he would be nothing but an empty husk.
And so we trained, for nearly fifteen years I lived a life on the run from many magi who wished to harm my family, they wanted Kiritsugu for crimes he had committed in the past, though I could never figure out just what they wanted, I had strong suspicions it was related to my dear sister.
Though the years were rough, we found a fragile sort of peace together with one another. Occasionally my thoughts would often drift to the past and I wondered how ‘they’ were doing. But such thoughts often became far and few between as the years went by. And my memories of that household were becoming dim with age.
Until it happened, two weeks ago.
**********************************************************************************
We were staying in a remote part of Italy, a place that we thought was safe for the time being.
As I was reading a book, a sharp pain shot through my hand and a bruise appeared. At first I thought nothing of it, but when I showed it to Maiya her expression darkened and she called for Kiritsugu.
How did I not realize it then?
I should have known this might have happened. I could never escape the past that easily, even after fifteen years of wandering.
My sister, Illyasviel came in at nearly the same time, but for her it was much worse. Crouched down in pain her forehead began to bleed as her entire body reddened.
It was a call from the Holy Grail and the Einzbern. A call to return home and fulfill her duty as a receptacle for the Grail.
After Kiritsugu arrived he told us about the Holy Grail War and its inner mechanisms. Apparently he had once been a Master in this war, but due to the fact that the war was supposed to happen every sixty or so years he thought we’d all be safe from it.
We spoke up at the same time, I knew I had to enter this war if I was ever going to finally free myself of the past but my sister felt the same.
Surprised at our reactions Kiritsugu had little choice but to accept our insistent demands to enter the war. He knew that if he attempted to say no we would just go off on our own anyways. We were too strong willed for him, but he was in a dilemma.
He only had one catalyst and there were two of us, so we decided to settle the matter over a duel. A duel of magi, the strongest would get the catalyst while the weaker would have to find an alternative route.
It was during this duel that she finally revealed her true colors. Illyasviel von Einzbern cheated, she did something I could never forgive her for and because of it she won the duel and stole my catalyst.
After that I couldn’t stay at home any longer, I couldn’t stand being near her any longer. Perhaps deep down I was afraid of what I might do to her, I had to run.
A few days later, under the cover of darkness and with the help of my dear mother, we summoned my own Servant. Servant of the night and a true killer, Assassin.
Apparently Assassin was special, he required no catalyst. But more than that I felt that he would fit my personality more than anyone else. Someone like Saber being of the knight class was too righteous for one such as myself with such a blackened heart, Assassin was the only choice.
Assassin himself was a little odd at first, but I quickly got used to him. Whenever I did get him to talk he would often pronounce things as innocent or guilty, as if he looked at everything through either black or white lenses. And how could I blame him? With a Noble Phantasm like that it seemed like the perfect fit for him.
With less than two weeks left until the Grail War was set to begin I began to make my way towards Fuyuki City, the place where the Grail War would take place.
After my arrival I quickly began to research other possible participants, along with help from Maiya we managed to find a great deal of information on possible participants.
The Tohsaka…, the Matou…, and then the Einzbern… I couldn’t believe my own eyes when I saw the data in front of me. I felt like an outcast, tossed outside of them all, I felt I belonged to all of them and yet none.
Additionally, I obtained information in regards to the Archibalds another house of magi that had begun to entwine its fingers into the inner workings of the grail war. A man named Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald was the winner of the last war, but he had won by default as the Grail was never actually summoned and he refused to explain why unless the person he was speaking to was of a higher status than his own. And seeing as he was the ninth head of his family there were few that could achieve such a claim.
These were all great families who had amassed their wealth and power over centuries of time, and yet I felt nearly all alone. With only myself and my dearest mother, I would have to overcome great odds in order to succeed.
Could I really do this?
What other choice did I have?
*********************************************************************************
Fast forward to three days ago, when the war had officially begun, all the Masters had been chosen, and after a signal from the mediator of the church we were all set to begin.
My first day was filled with scouting various positions, and although I came across no Masters or Servants besides my own I did note a few places of interest. Besides the mansions that belonged to the Tohsaka and Matou, the Einzbern hid a castle deep in the forests of Fuyuki I I considered he thought that my father and sister might be located there, but seeing as how they were now enemies of the Einzbern I quickly put that thought to rest, and that wasn’t all.
There were small traces of magical residue on a newly built skyscraper hotel that went by the name of Hyatt. I remembered my research into the last war, had the Archibald decided to make their own move into that place? It was a very plausible thought.
But before I could delve any deeper into that mystery I ran into her, it had to of been an accident, there was no other way we would have met that quickly yet again.
Illyasviel von Einzbern, the one who broke the rules, I needed to get my revenge. And what better way than by dealing with her Servant and proving my skills as a magus and a killer.
It was then that I realized what a battle between Servants truly was. With every shot of my Servant Assassin’s daggers he shattered the air and obliterated the ground, but his opponent, Saber was even stronger.
My Assassin fought as best as he could but despite his innate strength, his skills were not enough to overcome the demon that was Saber. In the end he was overwhelmed and beaten back. Additionally my skills were too obvious to use in such a short amount of time, my familiars were easily overcome by Illya’s magic leaving me with little choice, his Noble Phantasm was the only option but in that state it would only be possible with the use of a Command Seal.
With my hand outstretched I had begun to state my order, until they appeared. With those white masks and daggers similar to my Servant’s own, I was confused at first even if I secretly welcomed their help.
And then I heard him, his voice was loud and sounded arrogant, he gave his assistance with his Assassins and Illya was forced on the retreat. As she left she vowed that she would return and settle this matter later.
Seeing as I was no longer in any danger the man gave his own farewell promising to help a ‘beautiful young lady’ such as myself should I ever be in trouble again. But even as he and his Assassins disappeared I couldn’t help but remember that voice. Why did it sound so familiar?
As I began to leave I noticed one final presence out of the corner of my eye. Turning to face it for only a second before I vanished I noticed the man with his binoculars and the knight by his side staring down at me.
I didn’t recognize this particular man, he bore no look of familiarity and thus additional research was required if I was going to solve this mystery.
Later on I would find out that his name was Shirou Nosuke and together with his friend Shinji Matou they shared an apartment in that very location. He also worked as a nurse at a local hospital, and it was there that I decided to make my first real move.
************************************************************************
How much time had passed since I had drifted into thoughts of the past? Shaking my head to gather my scattered thoughts I glanced at my phone yet again just as it vibrated and a new message appeared on the screen.
‘Target spotted leaving the apartment, strong magical energy sensed nearby, likely a servant. Continue surveillance?’Quickly responding with a yes, I shuddered at the thought of finally getting to see some action.
Thoughts about the plan fluttered through my head as I contemplated what my first true mission would be like. Would I be able to act as I should? Could I kill him if necessary?
These thoughts and more flew through my head as I silently waited for the next text, which appeared just in time.
‘Target is not heading towards assumed location. Should I intercept?’Responding with a no, I wondered what he might be up to. Did he have a change of plans? Was he onto us? I had no way of telling, until the next text came in.
‘Target is engaging someone in a darkened alle…! Change of tactics, target is now being chased by another Servant, no visual available.’What was going on? Had he fallen for some kind of trap? It appeared that someone had beaten us to the punch and without any visuals it would be difficult to plan our next course of action.
But regardless we had to move fast, before anything else could happen.
1. Chase after the target before he can escape
2. Stay in the hospital and send Maiya after them
3. Abort the operation entirely, rethink the strategy
4. Write in…
