[h2][center]Kazamyr Silvestrov[/center][/h2]
He'd given the Master of Assassin an opportunity. A chance to work together and immediately close in on some of their opponents, to use their combined might to wipe out one or more of the enemy pairings on the very first night, and thus drastically increase their own odds of claiming the Grail. Any mage worth their salt would have jumped at such an offer.

Instead, Kazamyr (and the dead crow through which he spoke) found himself stunned into silence by her response.

The bird stared at the young woman as the Master of Rider struggled to understand what the hell had just happened. Was this girl actually that naive, or was she trying to mess with him, make him underestimate her? [i]No...[/i] That comment about Servants and mana was the key. She seemed completely uncertain about how they worked, and that could only mean one of two things: either she wasn't a mage, or she was such a novice that she could barely be considered one.

[i]... how interesting.[/i] On the one hand, it made her less powerful as an ally, since she wouldn't be able to offer much besides the power of her Servant. On the other hand, it made her [i]perfect[/i]. Who better to align oneself with than a Master completely ignorant of the backstabbing ways of mages? This was someone who could be manipulated, or at least trusted not to turn against him at the earliest opportunity.

[i]"You're new to this, aren't you?"[/i] the familiar said at last. A puff of air came out of its beak, something like a sigh. [i]"It would be pleasant, perhaps, if we could resolve this through some other means. A game show, or a race... but this is not a Holy Grail Game, Miss. This is a Holy Grail [b]WAR[/b]. There are Masters in this town who would not hesitate to give up lives, honor, even their own happiness, in order to obtain their wish!"[/i] It narrowed its eyes at her. [i]"Mercy is not an option. A Master could maybe be left alive, if not a threat on their own, but for this ritual to be complete... Servants will have to die."[/i] It ruffled its wings, as if to emphasize the point. [i]"So will it be theirs, or yours? Choose quickly, Master of Assassin..."[/i]

[@King Cosmos][@KoL][@Raineh Daze][@VitaVitaAR]