[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/HWXJapd.png[/img]
[h2][b]Cerzelium Orchelas[/b][/h2]
[i]Seine Right Bank, Business District[/i]
[@Phonic][/center] 
[hr]

[i]...the chance is minute. I will likely die here. What descends upon this land is a swarm of genuine magi, of storied families bred for research and war. The theory behind what they utilize certainly has me outclassed, the refinement of their foundations is likely leagues beyond the parlor tricks I throw around, and even if they are magi, I am certain no shortage of them have learned of combat. That young girl is not one I had information regarding, and even she had a presence mired in 'death' enough to make my eye sting.[/i]

Pale hands wrung together, the visage of an elderly man walking forwards, lines of thought creasing into his face.

[i]Not to mention, the Servants. My own Servant is mighty, to be sure, but we could not prepare a catalyst. What if another had managed to obtain a scrap of the Nemean Lion's pelt, a shard of the Round Table, a chip of the grand Oliphant? I should hope that my partner, for all his abilities, is not at the bottom, but nor should I expect him to accord me any advantage that is not canceled out by those of the others'.[/i]

Yes, there was no doubt- if one looked at this objectively, coming here had been a fool's decision. However...

[quote]"The odds are against you. You know this. You'll be going up against killers. They won't care about you as a person, they'll just seek your death for their own goals. Are you certain you are comfortable with being selected?"

"We must send someone, after all. The youngest are too inexperienced, and ones like you are too important."

"...You're a good father, Cerzelium. Better than I."[/quote]
Yes, if there was even a fraction of a chance to push the family forwards, to hope that he might witness his own descendants reach Enlightenment before his soul started to rot, then he would stake his life on that claim without a moment's hesitation. He would swallow his fear at his impending death, he would swallow his apprehension at the notion of having to kill another, and he would push forwards.

"What do you think of the city, Rider? I had the chance to familiarize myself with the lay of the land at least slightly, but if there's a sight that interests you, don't hesitate to let me know."

For now, though, it would do to simply understand the city and the hero he had summoned. 

If they were disturbed, they would cross that bridge upon coming to it.