Approaching the Einzbern Manner With Escort, Einzbern Forest, Miyama Southwest
Let silver and steel be the essence.
Let stone and the archduke of contracts be the foundation
Let black be the colour I pay tribute to / Let my great Master Einzbern be the ancestor*
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.
I hereby declare.
Your body shall serve under me.
My fate shall be your sword.
Submit to the beckoning of the Holy Grail
If you will submit to this will and this reason…Then answer!
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!
From the Seventh Heaven, attended to by three greet words of power,
Come forth from the ring of restraints,
Protector of the Holy Balance!
This incantation, she had said it only two months ago after acquiring her catalyst and conducting the proper ritual.
Only the second time an Einzbern homunculus had uttered it, and yet for Sophia she might as well have been a young preacher's son reciting a bible verse aloud for the millionth time in his life. Practiced and patient, words uttered as smooth as silk in German as if she had been practicing to say them all her life, as natural to her as breathing. Albeit, this was her purpose. The reason for her make, her existence, her very life itself dedicated to the reclamation of the Third Magic that Justeaze herself had taken with her to the Greater Grail.
....how selfish.
From what she understood, tho Tohsakas had their eyes on the Root still, which while admirable to keep to that original goal was foolish to stand before the might of the Einzberns. Even the Matou's.....ah, the family of
that man. She felt sympathy, perhaps even pity, for the family member of that lot who would be taking part in this. Then again she had been taught by
him....hmmm, perhaps a different approach was in order for that one, circumstances not withstanding. Then again those christian-Japanese martial artists had a sort of charm to them, an almost naive honesty in her eyes that could be ripe for use. Mmm....but these thoughts were perhaps for another time, or shortly soon after arriving.
With so many in this conflict, so much fodder, letting her guard down would be folly. Some fool or another would try if given the chance.
...but even so, perhaps strengthening the bounded field would be a good idea. Yes, quite.
Sophia walked with a calm, confident manner in her step down the dirt forest path. As much as the rickshaw that had pulled her to this point had been useful, to attach this place to civilization properly would leave her that much more vulnerable. A nasty dirt road, trodden down only by worker secretly shipped in during the nights to perform their duty, and thick trees all around. The civilians and normal humans would leave her well be here, though her face was not strange around town with the times she had visited here in preparation for this war. Haha.
But if any master dared show their face in her woods, they would be swept up much like a cockroach would be stopped abruptly under the bottom of a boot. Her servant was among the highest quality, the relic for this war for his summoning imported with care and attention. By the very light of the sun her enemies would be burnt to a crisp and left as ashen husks upon this Japanese soil.
As she finally approached the one-floor compound, a pleased expression came across her lips as she pondered the luxury she had been given here. Beautiful brick, a roof with a lovely slant, the way it ground against the buildings in town with its distinctly western architecture. It even had materials made from the finest that could be acquired, to ensure it was a comfortable and safe stay. Of course there was always the backup. Almost Gothic in appearance it was, based upon the best structure and a little on the cathedrals of Western Europe.
As one of her four familiars landed on her shoulder, sitting there like a silent guardian, so too was the homunculus reminded of a certain other thing she had following her. In particular, one used to keep tabs observe the surrounding area about her as she traveled. Sure, 5 of the best maids were by her side, and her 4 familiars, but were an enemy servant to attack? Perish the thought!
"You five, go inside and prepare the lounge with tea and proper treats to accompany it. Also prepare a brief on what information we have on the participants and information gathered so far from the library, and bring it to me once the lounge is ready. Further, tell the others as well to strengthen this bounded field, i want to ensure that nothing gets in without my knowing," Sophia said, red eyes darting over the maids as she gave swift orders, her smirk of pleasure on her face. In return the maids nodded before rushing inside....save for a pair who stayed in front of the doors like guards, halberds held in their hands as easily as a grown man might hold a light, tiny feather.
Standing alone for a moment, Sophia then let out a sigh. What a trip it had been to come back here those damned steam ships. But it was better than normal sailing, and she had to admit those barbaric Americans really had that much going for them. Technology. How much it opposed the existence of magecraft, but as one who found humans interesting she inevitably felt some sense of amusement at it all.
"Rider, we're here. Considering we have not had trouble as of yet, i assume our enemies haven't followed us. Do come in with me and let us enjoy some tea in the lounge as i look over our information to plan the events through tonight," the doll continued, before the doors were opened before her as she moved to walk inside, expecting her servant to follow.
However, she then lowered her voice and let out a small mutter of words.
"I might even take a bath after this....such hot accommodations on those ships....," @Lord Antares
Lesser Ruler: Saint Longinus
Hall, Fuyuki Temple
To breathe in the air of this world once more, to bask in the glorious light of the sun made possible by the Lord. Twas' something the saint had enjoyed very much of after being summoned by the Grail to protect this conflict. Indeed, his very role was split among the two of them to guide this conflict to its end without intrusion from forces bent on breaking its tenants or seeking to harm the Grails themselves. Personally, beyond this he would not allow this place to become the wholesale slaughter of the unknowing people here, Ruler or no, rules or not. Such was the nature of the soldier who had become a saint, who would act without hesitation in both his role as Ruler and by his moral character as a follow of the Messiah. Though if the need came....hard sacrifices might very well need to be made, even if it meant his own life, without hesitation.
Though that
"other" one among the two of them seemed interesting regardless, and he wished he could see their face to speak with them. But...it seemed this was not to be so. Patience was indeed a great virtue, according to the words of the Savior himself, and so he would work within the bounds of his role.
Sighing to himself, he remained in spiritual form, his vigil continuing as he had gone about the town day and night since his arrival here back into this world. Though sitting by in this rather ascetic hall of an eastern temple was an odd thing, albeit comforting and calming in a sense. As a monk, he felt such accommodations were perfectly sound, lacking in the same....pomp local governors of the Empire had been like. However, as much as it could be spying, listening to the Whitehall sisters' banter about the war, planned strategy, he just wanted to make sure they were not seeking to break the rules. And from all appearances, they were not. Simply getting ready to start the war.
As Sera opened the door to the doorway, the Ruler-class servant materialized before them suddenly.
Light brown hair and a a pair of calm yet experienced eyes, alongside his Caucasian skin, were easy to see as being strange to this, and his nature being that of a servant to boot. His armor was like that of an old Roman centurion, though he wasn't wearing common clothes for a reason. He had made sure there were none else here to see him. Were he in any danger of exposing things, he would have acted otherwise.
"Be not afraid, masters who seek to attain the Grail. I am but one of the two Rulers of this war. I have merely come to check in with the war's participants before the start, and to ensure the rules remain followed," the man said where only the three of them could hear, voice as smooth and gentle as far eastern silk, but a sort of charisma and kind nature that could only ever elicit a response and smile from most human beings in return. Yet, there was a gravity to his presence that could not be denied, the pressure of the presence of a powerful being dubbed a 'servant' with any doubt,
"To this end, have you both sought catalysts in preparation, or are you summoning without catalysts?"He had made sure no monks would be around when he came to speak with these two. As among the seemingly most recent arrivals, he was wanting to check in with them first, to be sure they understood things as well. With a glance he would be able to tell what he needed to about them as well, such as if they were lying. Such was the content of this saint's character. Though he also wanted to ascertain what sorts of servants were to be summoned, if possible. As a Ruler he could tell whom any servant was, but being able to keep in mind ahead of time about potential troublemakers among masters AND servants had it potential value.
@Vocab@addamas
Xaltwind
Shazamrock
Savo
Tortoise
AtomicNut
Sigma
Spiffy
Ariamis
Animal
Neziul