[img]https://i.imgur.com/nLv6HIi.png[/img] [center][color=a2d39c][u][b]Caster[/b][/u][/color][/center] [right]Near the Edge of Town**[@Stormborn][@Seirei No Hai][@ERode][@Love Detective] Taking Control of Liliana and Hatshepsut.[/right] [i]"That reminds me Sir Liang. If you are a Servant, who summoned both of you if not her or my original Master somewhere out in this hellish landscape?"[/i] Liang did not miss a beat, and nodded at the question. [color=a2d39c]"Ah, it's a bit of a long story. Just know that I was summoned for a Holy Grail War. Everything happening now is the aftermath of it. Seven servants summoned by their masters, each to help their summoner win a war. It... Didn't go exactly as planned."[/color] He took a step away, as if to guide them. [color=a2d39c]"But, I shall tell you the full story when we are someplace a bit safer. My maze is... Well I feel we'd all be happier to be at my workshop instead. No doubt we'll have your friend arrive shortly with us."[/color] Liliana stepped over, and began to walk by the Caster's side. [i]"Well, aren't you all going to follow?"[/i] She said, as if that was so simple. It was less trust, and more a realization that even if they said no, it was unlikely they'd ever get out of the maze without somebody to help them. And she for one did not like to get lost. It was one thing for a corn maze, but this was something else. Even if her current team wanted to, she was forcing their hands. [i]"Now, Mr. Zhuge Liang, tell me about China. Is it lovely this time of year?"[/i] His response did not reach Saber's ears, but judging from how excited Liliana acted, it must have sounded rather lovely to her ears. As soon enough... Time moved on. [u][b]At Caster's Workshop...[/b][/u] The workshop was simple. It lay upon the old school, which was good enough for a Caster at least. Making it rather clear where he most stood to benefit. The building was noticeably gutted, but quite a bit of it had been restored in a way that clearly hearkened to the Caster's homeland. A warm cozy look, with quite a number of artifacts he had no doubt re-purposed from the museum. [color=a2d39c]"Do you like that one?"[/color] Caster asked, while watching Lilianna pick up a helmet. [color=a2d39c]"It's the catalyst used by a master in the second grail war. I believe it was used to summon a persian hero. Likely someone like Cyrus the Great, or one of the many Darius's. I suspected the master must have been from the same region, since I heard that the Berseker of the second war was quite the monster. The Berserker of this war was a formidable beast too, but she passed up against assassin early on, and he stole her rage. It would have helped to have her in the war."[/color] Caster then glared at Diarmuid, who had been forced to take a seat in the corner after Caster had returned to see him and the Rider fighting again. It was kind of like seeing him lightly punish a giant dog. Kind of silly, despite Saber being more than a match for Caster. [color=a2d39c]"Though, I guess it's time to explain where it all went wrong."[/color] Caster said, and pondered for a moment just where he should begin. [color=a2d39c]"Well, I guess... I should start with the very end of the war."[/color] [center][b][u]Three Days Ago, the War's End.[/u][/b][/center] [quote]Caster... Was defeated... He was on his knees, eyes wide, and finally defeated. Not by a quick mind, or a strategist above his level, but by sheer attrition. Waves upon waves of soldiers, and he only one man. It was like facing off against his rival again. But unlike Sima Yi, who was smug as could be, there was no sense of an equal match here. It was simply the reality of being overwhelmed by a wave. As if he was once more fighting the whole hordes of Cao Cao's Wu. And finally... He had folded. Having been impaled by three spears, it was a wonder Caster was still alive, much less able to focus on the man in front of him. Because before him, was Rider. Alexander the great. A conqueror of such renown that even Caster knew his name from simple knowledge alone. His breathing was heavy as he watched the conqueror stand aloof and distant, as if judging rather than getting involved. [color=f26522]"Impressive, Caster. I shall remember you as one of the more worthy challenges I have faced in this war."[/color] Rider said, with a smirk on his lips. [color=f26522]"It's a shame I can't recruit you to my cause, but loyalty to your own ruler is a quality that I would never force from another. After all, a willingness like yours should be congratulated, and not stolen."[/color] It was odd, but despite such a defeat, it was hard to feel anger at this man. No, it made sense. It explained why he had been hailed a god in some places. Caster let out a deep sigh, still holding on. Until there was a pain in his heart. A sudden feeling, as if a connection had been severed. As if on cue, a man stepped from the shadows. His hair a snowy blonde, almost white, and his black cloak all to obvious. Caster didn't even need to say the name. They all knew who he was. [url=https://static.zerochan.net/Kayneth.Archibald.El-Melloi.full.2387116.png]Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald[/url]... [color=a2d39c]"What did you d-"[/color] Caster opened his mouth to speak, but it didn't matter. He was silenced by another figure moving from the shadows. Light dancing off its form... The Volumen Hydrargyrum. A slick silver abomination of magecraft, and a genius work of a genius mage of his era. But that was not what drew Caster's eyes. That wasn't what made him shut up. [color=a2d39c]"Waver?"[/color] The boy's head rested on top of the strange sphere. The rest of his body hidden inside it. But no doubt... Waver Velvet was dead. His body shredded apart, as he had tried to match his own teacher in a field he was never destined to succeed in. The very definition of an impossible battle. [color=f26522]"Tssk, a real shame."[/color] Rider said, shaking his head. [color=f26522]"That boy had spunk. Well, spunk buried under fear and cowardice."[/color] Rider added that last part, and for a moment Caster wished he had the strength to move, so that he might strangle both men who took satisfaction in the death of Caster's master. [color=a2d39c]"Rider..."[/color] Caster spoke, but the words hurt so much. [color=a2d39c]"I damn you... I damn your quest for conquest. I damn your master. I damn all who participate in this war."[/color] His words were bitter. [color=a2d39c]"I hope that when you look upon your grail. Your prize at the end of the rainbow... It is as black and meaningless as the those of a demon from the deepest part of humanity. Damn your grail war. Damn you."[/color] Caster closed his eyes... And the last thing he saw was Rider walking away with his master... And Waver's mutilated body hitting the floor. Life discarded so easily... What a waste... What a waste................... What a waste........................................................................................ Then Caster woke up. Magic filled the air. The grail had been destroyed... And he was there once more.[/quote] [center][u][b]Today...[/b][/u][/center] [color=a2d39c]"That is what happened. The war ended when another master attacked the grail. Unable to destroy it, he had instead released its contents upon the world. A black mud that corrupted any human it touched, and twisted any servant who stepped into it. Rider was the closest, and thus was tainted forever by its madness."[/color] [i]"Well, I guess we know who our enemy is..."[/i] Lilianna said after that long silence.