1 Fate/Faction Wars

"The Grail is… An omnipotent wish-granting device that can bring miracles..."

"Summoning heroes from the past as servants, and then having them to fighting until the last one alive."

"As a result, that winner gets the right to fulfill all his desires."

"Calling back heroes from all time, periods and all countries to the present… Fight each other to the death."

"That is the Holy Grail War."

[---]

"...My head… Where am I…?"

Something asks. A female-shaped shadow with a jovial voice, confused, in a totally dark place, a great nothing, like the space.

"Don't worry, my warrior. No need to be confused…" 

A feminine voice answers, with a serene tone. 

"Soon the answers will appear on your head, like a simple flash…"

She says, quite calmly. Right after that, the entire space is suddenly covered in white.

"Welcome to the Throne of Heroes... I am the Holy Grail, the omnipotent wish-granting vessel."

It answers, taking the form of a great, golden and shiny light, appearing in the middle of the immense white space.

"The… Holy Grail...? But…"

The voice asks, while the great Grail started to manifest itself.

"Soon the answers will come… And your wish will be granted."

The Grail replied.

"Hurry up, my Heroic Spirit, the others like you are already ready… Hurry up, and, once again, welcome... Welcome to the Great Holy Grail War, my Ruler."

It speaks toward the female-shaped shadow.

"Understood."

The shadow responds, as if it already had understood the whole conversation. Soon the female-shaped shadow fades away, and the white space goes back to being pitch black.

"The last of the Faction's Ruler servant was just summoned… Let the Great War begin.

The Grail says, while slowly starts disappearing in the immense darkness of the Throne of Heroes.

[Fuyuki, Japan. 22:50h]

In a small temple, on the city of Fuyuki, a young girl was praying, sleepy, kneeling in front of an altar. 

She is pretty youthful. Has long dark hair, brown eyes and a light skin; 1,64 tall and wears a white kimono with red details.

The young girl scratches her eyes and starts to observe the altar. After a few seconds she stops, thinks for a bit, and says: 

"Of course I'll help you, miss Iris."

She affirms, In a pretty calm way, with a subtle smile on her face.

The back of the girl starts to glow, inside its kimono, making it look like some sort of red tattoo, a strange red symbol.

"Thank you, young girl, for lending me your body."

She says, to herself, with a more formal voice tone, but happy, regardless of it... 

"But why my body wasn't full summoned… Why does you have to lending me your body as a vessel?"

She thinks for a second.

"Only the Greater Grail knows the answer to this question... Even though, you already know part of my True Name, young girl."

Iris says, still formal, although with a little more excited tone in her voice.

"I, the Ruler of Black, am going to win this Great War, together with my Faction. We'll win for the Black Faction!"

She says, pretty excited now, leaving the serious person role.

She walks to the entrance of the Temple.

"Now I'll have to wait the others, the Servants of my Faction… Hope it doesn't take too much work."

Iris speaks, looking sad for a moment, but quickly goes back to her serious posture. 

"Let the Faction War begin!"

She says, with a little smug, looking at the stars in the sky.