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~ [i]Small Beginnings[/i] ~[/center]

Perhaps on the advent on things that might result in ones death, a person would flee. Build up walls between the event as to keep distance between whatever they ran from. It didn't necessarily have to be lethal from the get go. Anything that could, at some point, lead to the eventuality that was death, would fall into the category; people had a natural diversion from danger, and did their best to avoid it at every turn. 

However the same couldn't be said of the present. To describe the up and coming event, the words "A battle that could easily result in the loss of a Mages' life" wouldn't be far from the truth. She had done a lot of research into said event, making sure to keep detailed notes in between studies, whilst schooling her compatriot on the what inner workings she could glean, as well as the proceedings they would come across. To say this was uncharted territory for her would be apt. What was coming up was something she couldn't say she had much experience in, but, at least in her imagination, the same would apply to most others.

And by others, she meant those that had already arrived. They came in droves, seeking fortunes, and riches, and their varying little obsessions, seeking refuge under the common banner that the battle would make it all come true. At the very least, the number of high ranking Magi that had flocked to the site surprised her. Multiple Festival ranked men and women sought their desires granted, however their sheer number, far outweighing any over classification, left her, at least partially, in surprise. They had all come seeking the Holy Grail. The miracle wish granting vessel of infinite Mana that every Magus in the world, apparently, was willing to fight for. 

And Serafina was one of them. One of those Fes ranked Magi, on her journey to partake in the large scale battle known as the Holy Grail War. She might have disliked the Three Families for the most part, but at the least she could commend them on their dramatisation. Summoning heroes of the past to partake in bloody combat? It was a novelty idea, and she appreciated as such. Much like the other Fes ranked Magi her name would no doubt spread, but that much didn't matter. 

After all, she was a Whitehall. One of the greatest Runic families in the world. Their skill with the art was unparalleled, especially in recent years as they assimilated Old Runes into their combat repertoire. It could be said, then, that Serafina was confident in her chances, dragging a suitcase behind her along the cobbled road of Fuyuki Proper, stocked with clothes and materials. Mostly materials. Setting up a workshop would be paramount, and as luck had it, she'd the perfect location planned out.

To her left, just a tad behind, with shorter hair and a slightly shorter stature, was her sister. Sofia Whitehall. Other than the grey eyes, short hair and discrepancy in body shape, the two looked incredibly similar. Sera wasn't necessarily happy with that Sofia had accompanied her on the journey. Much like people avoided danger and death themselves, the same went for their family members and loved one; people took exceptional care to keep those close to them out of danger, and while she had tried to, her sister wouldn't listen. Always the rebel, though she was grateful for the company.

Already Fuyuki city was an oddity. On their way to their lodgings, the two had passed a man in a horse mask - or Sera assumed they were a man - and another in full armour and a cape. The eccentricities and customs of Japan weren't exactly lost on her, but for what purpose people could have to dress in such an absurd fashion she couldn't tell. Regardless she continued on past them, making idle and small chatter with her sister, until they began to climb the stairs to the Temple.

[colour=SteelBlue]"Try and remember that this isn't a holiday, Sophie. And, please, don't show us up... the Ryuudou's are family friends, we want to make a good impression as the next generation."[/colour] she turned, speaking to her sister before the two began the climb towards the temple proper.

[color=7FFFD4]“Yes yes, I’ll lay low while you do your thing.”[/color] Sofia said, adjusting the backpack on her back while slogging behind Serafina. [color=7FFFD4]“I still don’t get why you put so much faith in our family and their [i]friends[/i].”[/color]

[colour=SteelBlue]”Well for one, since we’re members of the family, they’re [i]our[/i] friends too.”[/colour] she gave a glance behind her as she spoke, but continued to walk at a steady pace, [colour=SteelBlue]”But if we don’t have faith in somebody, we won't be going anywhere. We don’t have many connections in Japan; this is the best place we can get, and we should be grateful.”[/colour] her eyes drifted upwards, towards the gate they were approaching, [colour=SteelBlue]”This is the most powerful Leyline in Fuyuki. To be able to secure it as outsiders to the city is a miracle, quite frankly.”[/colour]

Sofia pouted. [color=7FFFD4]“I don’t like relying on them...but if it helps us this much.”[/color] she quickened her pace to catch up to Serafina. [color=7FFFD4]“Have you met them before, are they nic- oeh! There’s a dog over there.”[/color] Before she could finish her question, she was already hopping up the stairs towards the dog.

The sight of animals in the street was far from unusual; the siblings had passed multiple cats and dogs on their way to temple. In that vein Sera could only sigh as Sofia sped in front of her to play with whatever animal had placed itself at the top of the stairs. She followed suit, though at a slower pace, before coming onto the landing in front of the gate behind her.

[colour=SteelBlue]”I doubt it wants to be played with, Sophie. We don’t exactly have all day to set up.”[/colour] she took a step around her sister, standing over the growling and barking dog, [colour=SteelBlue]”Pretty sure it isn’t friendly either. Does it belong to anyone?”[/colour]

[color=7FFFD4]“See the the collar? I think it’s a guard dog, guarding this...gate?”[/color] Sofia’s eyes turned a shade of aqua as she looked at the temple beyond the dog, visibly narrowing her eyes as if looking at something bright. [color=7FFFD4]“You’re totally right sis, this place is [i]brimming[/i] with magical energy. We’ll definitely be able to work with this.”[/color] Her eyes went grey again upon looking at the dog. [color=7FFFD4]“So, where’s your master buddy? shoo shoo, get your master!”[/color]

Instead of running off to fetch someone, though, the Beagle simply stood its ground, continually growling as Sofia spoke. Considering the early hour they found themselves at, it was doubtful the monks would be awake yet, but if the dog kept up its attitude, that would surely change.
[colour=SteelBlue]”Hard to imagine the temple needing a guard dog when it’s supposed to be open to the public.”[/colour] she said, letting her suitcase stand while she approached it. Then in a split second…

It jumped at her. It’s legs left the ground quickly, and though it achieved little ground clearance, it was able to get close to her hand as she reached out to touch it. But in the split second between the two events, she grabbed it by the collar, lifting it from the landing to eye level, where its barking only continued to increase in volume.
[colour=SteelBlue]”...Shinji, huh? Please stop barking. It’s not going to help either of us.”[/colour]

[color=7FFFD4]“Be careful Sera! You might hurt the poor thing.”[/color]

[colour=SteelBlue]”Hurt the thi--”[/colour] she turned back to face her sister, still holding the dog five feet above the air, [colour=SteelBlue]”It [i]did[/i] just attack me, I’d like to point out.”[/colour] she let out a sigh, and started walking back towards the gate, grabbing her suitcase along the way, [colour=SteelBlue]”Come one, lets just…”[/colour] but the dog was still barking, [colour=SteelBlue]”Is there an off switch for this thing? Can I, like, press a button or something, cause that’d be great.”[/colour]

[color=7FFFD4]“Well, you could uhh, put him to sleep. But I won’t be held accountable!”[/color] Sofia said as she moved closer to the dog, trying to pet it to no avail. [color=7FFFD4]“Come on Shinji, play along will you?”[/color]

Sera watched as Sofia attempted to silence the thing, but without success, as it continually snapped at her in attempt to remove the hand feeling its unwashed, dirt ridden coat. Instead of allowing it to continue, though, she pulled the dog away, and pushed on into the gate and temple courtyard. All she could really hope was that the thing hadn’t made such a loud racket as to awaken the entire complex.

And while she couldn’t say that hope was dashed, she found herself face to face with a person, stood, waiting for them to enter. The boy looked at least in his late teens, with short, finely cut blue hair, wearing what could only be assumed as the typical attire of the temple.
[colour=SteelBlue]”Ah, Yoshiki Ryuudou. I’m glad you’re the only person we awoke. I’m Serafina. Serafina Whitehall,”[/colour] she gave a small bow, before motioning to her sister, [colour=SteelBlue]”And this is Sofia, my sister. We thank you for allowing us stay within the Temple - I understand it is far from customary to do so.”[/colour]
[b]”Not at all, our families have been friends for many years now. You are welcome to stay here for as long as you are in Fuyuki. And, anyways, I was awake already; I’m happy I was, too, now that you’ve arrived.”[/b] his gaze turned towards Shinji, still barking beside her, [b]”Is… that dog yours? It’s been troubling us for a little while now.”[/b]

[color=7FFFD4]“We thought the dog belonged to the temple. If it’s not yours it must be a stray.”[/color] Sofia casually responded before whispering in Sera’s ear. [color=7FFFD4]“Think we can just leave it?”[/color]

As Sofia whispered to her, she let her suitcase rest once again. The dog was still barking and struggling, but against her rune empowered strength there was little it could do to escape. Thusly, she reached down to the tag on its otherwise negligible red collar.
[colour=SteelBlue]”Matou…”[/colour] she read aloud, turning the tag around, revealing a faded mark where a word might once have been.
[b]”As in the Matou family?”[/b] Yoshiki said aloud.
[colour=SteelBlue]”Yup. Do you have any food for it? I dunno what your policy is on keeping pets, but I think it’d be nice to return him to them. A gesture of goodwill, as it were. What do you think, Sophie?”[/colour]

[color=7FFFD4]“You always think so tactical, it wouldn’t hurt to consider your own feelings for once. But you’re right, we should return Shinji to his owner...But I'm doing it for the dog! Not to gain a favour or something.”[/color] Sofia pouted once more.

[b]Keeping pets isn’t exactly… allowed. You’re not even supposed to bring them onto Temple grounds, let alone into the building.”[/b]
Serafina looked at him, then the dog, and finally towards Sofia as she pouted in her typical manner. It was a habit she had developed early on in her life, and quickly became one of her staple expressions; Sera was more than used to seeing it.
[colour=SteelBlue]”Well, it was staying outside the Temple.”[/colour]
[b]”That it was. We’ve been feeding it- him some small things every now and then, but my father has been getting frustrated at its constant growling and people coming and going by the gate. There’ve been plans to locate it elsewhere, unfortunately…”[/b]
[colour=SteelBlue]”I see, well, is there any way to could postpone that, at least for a couple days? I’ll need to get in contact with the Matou Family, which might not be too easy.”[/colour] she gave him a small smile, to which he smiled back.
[b]”Of course, I’ll see what I can do.”[/b] 

For a moment he seemed content, but then his focus snapped back to the real topic, and he quickly redirected himself.
[b]”Ah, but, you two must be tired, right, coming all the way to Fuyuki? I need to show you where the two of you will be staying, please, come with me.”[/b] he started on, moving towards the main complex of the establishment, gesturing for the two girls to follow. In response, Sera placed Shinji back down on the ground, where he scurried back along the ground towards the temple gate, allowing her to follow their host unimpeded.

Sofia followed close after, occasionally staring in awe at the temples’ architecture. [color=7FFFD4]“This place looks so pretty; Japan sure knows how to praise their Gods.”[/color]

[center]~[/center]

It hadn’t taken the longest for the two to become acquainted with their accommodations, as the room in question was, for the most part, relatively bare. The space was relatively small, with Tatami Mats making up the floor. A door on the Eastern wall held a minuscule space for storage, and beside it resided an area for burning incense, just below a scroll. Two futons already lay pre-made along the floor, bearing a similar aesthetic to the rest of the room.

[colour=SteelBlue]”We’re going to want to find a place somewhat away from the temple to summon a Servant. It’d be pretty hard to do it here, even if people are still asleep.”[/colour] Sera started, keeping herself seated before a small, elevated area in the room, using it like a table, [colour=SteelBlue]”We can probably head into the forest to do it; that should be far enough away from any people.”[/colour] as she spoke, she folded a letter, and slid it into an envelope, and took out a piece of wax, and a small stamp. At the tip of the wax was a single Rune, ᚨ, Ansuz, which, abruptly, began to glow, melting the tip of the wax until it dripped onto the envelope.

From there, Sera pressed the stamp into the molten wax, sealing the letter. The seal was simple - a ring of the entire Runic alphabet. Those versed in Runic Arts would know it as the same chain used to create a Shield of the Alphabet; the Whitehall family was known for using different seals for different occasions, with this seal meaning one of protection, and alliance. Finished with her work, she stood, and handed the letter to Sofia.

[color=7FFFD4]“What’s this for? Want me to send this lovely letter to mom and dad? Or is it for the monks?”[/color]

Sera gave a small smile, then turned back to her luggage.
[colour=SteelBlue]”What makes you think I’d want to send a letter to them?”[/colour] she replied, pulling out varying crafting materials she had brought along for both her and her sister, [colour=SteelBlue]”No, It’s for the Matou’s. I told you on the way here, they’re one of the Three Families who started the Grail War, along with the Tohsaka’s and the Einzbern’s. I’m confident in our power to deal with them, but…”[/colour] she trailed off, pulling from the bottom of the suitcase an item wrapped delicately in protective cloth, [colour=SteelBlue]”This is our ticket to winning the Grail, Sophie. If the Matou’s agree to an alliance we’ll have double, maybe even triple the power. We’ll be an unstoppable force, and when the time comes, we’ll take the Grail.”[/colour] and then she looked over and smiled, [colour=SteelBlue]”And we’ll make you wish come true.”[/colour]

With her explanation done, she unwrapped the cloth, revealing a gleaming blade. 
[colour=SteelBlue]”History isn’t exactly my forte, but with this… I’ll summon Troy’s greatest hero.”[/colour] her smile dimmed into thought, until she looked back towards her sister, [colour=SteelBlue]”But that comes later. For now, you find a way to get that to the Matou’s. I’m gonna scout us a good place to summon this bad boy, then we’ll meet back in… a little while, to summon ‘em. Sound good?”[/colour]

[color=7FFFD4]“Alrighty Sis, I’ll make sure this letter gets there.”[/color] She said as she pulled a small white bird from her backpack. In a small spark of light, the bird familiar sprung to life and Sofia gave it the letter. [color=7FFFD4]“Get this to the Matou family for me please.”[/color] She patted it’s head before releasing it in the air; eventually it would find its way there.

As Sofia did so, Sera wrapped the sword back up, and placed it into the suitcase once again. All that was left to do was scout the surrounding forests for suitable summoning locations.
[colour=SteelBlue]”Right then, let’s go.”[/colour] she said, standing from the floor and opening the door, motioning for Sofia to follow her on. It was still early morning - most of the monks likely wouldn’t wake up for at least a little while longer. It was the perfect time for reconnaissance.