On Edge (2)

{Fortress of Millenia, Transylvania. 2004}

["On whose land do you think you stand upon?"] I heard the voice of Lancer of Black through the floating screen projecting his image.

We stood at one of the castle's balconies, me and the rest of the Yggdmillennia Masters, watching as the company of magi hunters came closer to the castle.

The Bounded Fields of the surrounding forest were systematically destroyed. Roche's personally made golems barely made a scratch on the coordinated assault the hunters launched. They were competent and had great teamwork, syncing attacks on the security golems and simultaneously dismantling the Fortress' defenses.

"As our esteemed Masters, I understand you're all going to throw yoursleves into the harsh War in the horizon. But before that..." Darnic said without a hint of worry, then fluttered his cape while turning to us. "Witness a fragment of the power possessed by the Servants you will summon."

Vlad the Impaler stood on the open path leading to the Fortress' main gate, stalwart, imposing, and gazing ahead at the battalion confronting him.

He was bombarded for several more seconds. High ranking thaumaturgy impacting him like an artillery bombardment. Elemental spells burned, thundered, and froze yet did nothing. Conceptual weapons of death, severing, and disruption slid off him like foam toys.

All of this as he stood unmoving, then spoke once more.

["This field...this forest...this land..."]

The assault against Lancer was renewed with less intensity. Trump cards having been spent on the monster in front of them.

Yet my naked Eyes strained further as I saw the gathering black smoke laying beneath the lands.

["All of it. Every last piece...is part of my domain."]

The smoke condensed into muddy streams. They seeked and homed on each member of the battalion, grasping on their presences, tense as a drawn bow ready to fire.

The ground shook for a brief moment-

["Kazikli Bey."]

-until long black stakes appeared from the ground faster than the blink of an eye. All targeted below each hunter, except one. Nearly half of the unexpecting enemies were impaled from bottom to head, snuffed out in less than a second. Some of them impressively defended against one or two of them, until that was remedied by another stake or two that lead to their inevitable deaths. Their protective Mystic Codes and inlaid magical defenses crumbled like a needle piercing through cloth.

Even if they were Magus nobles with the strongest defensive Magecraft, it would still eventually break against the sheer conceptual weight of a Noble Phantasm this powerful, against a legend famed for his ruthlessness.

Those stakes were the promise of rage and merciless execution. The crystallisation of the legend of a man that had massacred for the sake of striking fear into the hearts of his enemies.

This was the power of a Servant.

My face scrunched as a piercing headache made its way to my head, eyes hurting from the entirely new level of power I just witnessed.

"Caules..." Fei said, handing me my glasses; her face was pale and worried.

I looked at them for a second before pocketing it.

"Later. I want to see this through...until the summoning at least."

Her expression narrowed, then she nodded.

I wiped a tear off my face, unfortunately smeared with a small amount of blood. Well, there was a first time for everything. But I had a strong feeling that this wouldn't be the first time I'll be weeping blood in the War.

A quick application of a personal spell and a minute later, the headache stopped, but the gravity of the situation still kept me on edge.

-0-0-0-

Standing here in the throne room with the other Black Faction Masters, I realize that the moment I've been preparing for had finally arrived.

"Now, place your catalysts on the altars." Darnic commanded.

I've got to admit. I feel like I've been thoroughly submerged in my existential panic so much that I circled back to tranquility.

The artifacts were in place. Whether they would end up summoning our wanted Servants or not was up to chance now.

"Now then, proud magi of Yggdmillenia, you may begin."

My magic circuits activated with the mental image of a thunderbolt, accompanying the Breath and posture that harmonized myself with the world. Heat encompassed my body like a warm blanket and piping hot liquid in my veins. It hurt a bit, but it was a comforting pain.

I inhaled deeply, and started the chant in tandem with the others.

"Let silver and steel be the essence.

Let stone and the archduke of contracts be the foundation.

Let black be the color I pay tribute to."

A stray thought came to my mind as I poured more magical energy through the ritual. A little thing that I considered many times before.

I could have run from this.

"Let rise a wall against the wind that shall fall.

Let the four cardinal gates close.

Let the three-forked road from the crown reaching unto the Kingdom rotate."

A few years ago, to even a month ago, it would've been so easy.

I was a second child of a Magus family. A backup to a prodigy, a second fiddle that few would bat an eye at leaving.

Even during my early hunter days, I could have quit. A freelancer with my skills were rare enough to be valuable in the Moonlit World.

"Let it be declared now; your flesh shall serve under me, and my fate shall be with your sword.

Submit to the beckoning of the Holy Grail.

Answer, if you would submit to this will and this truth."

A blink was all it took for me to disregard the intrusive thought.

I made a promise after all.

My naked eyes wept red, yet I stared forward at the blinding lights of the summoning with no more doubt.

"An oath shall be sworn here.

I shall attain all virtues of all of Heaven;

I shall have dominion over all evils of all of Hell."

It took a single trip to my homeland to realize that I was never born in this world. A single trip to make me realize that the only thing I'd ever keep of my previous life were these memories of mine. These fading silhouettes and sensations that I refuse to lose.

And I'd be damned if I lost the only family I had in this life as well. That's why...

I was riding on the chance for my catalyst to summon that hero. To summon someone strong enough for me to depend on, in this war.

"From the Seventh Heaven, attended to by three great words of power,

come forth from the ring of restraint, protector of the holy balance!"

For that reflective bronze fragment was once part of a shield - divine in origin, gifted to a hero of Greek legend. It was that same shield that helped a son of Zeus to slay an infamous monster.

In the ensuing ritual, the air displaced with a flash. And, for a short moment, a kaleidoscope of light flashed before my eyes.

4 figures appeared in a kneeling position within their respective summoning circles, and spoke in unison.

""In accordance to the summons, we present ourselves - the Servants of Black. Our fates shall be with Yggdmillenia, and our swords shall be your swords.""

At the very front was the Servant Saber. A tall man with heavy armor on his shoulder and limbs, and a greatsword at his back. He had a long mane of gray hair and held a stoic expression. His presence looked like a dragon's shadow, as if he heralded the looming beast itself.

Servant Archer wore the calming green aura of nature, with the otherworldy weight of what I recognized as divinity. He had brown hair and wore archaic clothing reminiscent of the Greeks.

Servant Berserker was a controlled yet manic pink, with a fraying moonlight white that looked like it wanted to be set free and rage. She- no, he was a pink haired twink with a sword sheathed to his side.

To the circle of my summons was Servant Rider.

I had to say...this person was a bit unexpected, but it made a bit of sense that they would be summoned with this catalyst.

Because I was sure as hell that Perseus was not a tall woman with long pink hair, a revealing black dress, and a thick blindfold. Her aura of red seeming to coil around, about, and into itself like a den of snakes.

All in all, there was nothing for me to complain about. She was a strong Servant; ergo, we had a higher chance to win the war.

Now all that was left was to plan for the remaining days and-

"Woah! Are you doing okay there, pal!?" Berserker said to me with concern?

"Huh?"

"Caules, your eyes are bleeding!" Fiore shouted.

I wiped my sleeve across my wet face.

Huh, so they are.

I also now realize my head was pounding with ALL THE PAIN.

"I'm still not hearing an okay!?"

"I'm okay." I lied and raised a thumbs up. I felt like passing out any moment now.

"No you're not!" Fiore shouted.

"No I'm not." I acquiesced to the worried sister.

"Wear your glasses, you idiot! I'm bringing you back to your room! You have the healing salves, right?" The liquified spirits of tiny forest Elementals?

"Yehp." I slurred a butt. Heh, bit, butt.

I could just feel the judgemental thoughts and stares of every other Magus in the room. There was also a collective scoff from both Gordes and Celenike.

At least I kept my dignity by passing out in the hallway instead of the throne room.

What a good first impression to several legendary heroes. Good job, me.

-0-0-0-

AN: Ayo, it's yaboi. Hitting you with that good 'ol one two punch that you maybe didn't see coming...I have no idea where I'm going with this metaphor. Anyway! Here we have the summoning! Now, we got a few chapters before we get to that meaty Grail War fighting, so I want to use those to flesh this cast out enough to make you care about them a bit.

Plus, maybe there's a few more surprises along the way to derail the plot beyond the SI's knowledge. Wink wink. Nudge nudge. That's it for now.

Peace✌️out.