Well, so much for more frequent updates. I suppose a year-long gap is better than the biannual schedule I jested about in the prior chapter, though I could still certainly improve on that score. Odd that the time I've decided this chapter to be finished (after much back-and-forth between my proofreader) is on the precise day I released chapter 1. It's as if this fic gains some secret power once early October rolls around.

Fear not, despite the agonizingly slow update schedule, this story is still being worked on, surprising as that may be. Chapters 3 and 4 are both in their revision stages and chapter 5 is in the fleshing out stage. With luck, and an increased proficiency with my writing, those should, at the very least, come out this year, although given my inability to keep a relatively short space of time between each chapter, I regard this prediction of mine warily.

Still, I can only hope this humble addition to the already-released content will whet the appetites of my readers, provided there is still interest, for a period of time.

Regrettably, I cannot answer most of the questions in the reviews as that would spoil the character arcs for certain characters in future chapters. I can, however, confirm that, yes, Homura's weapons will be treated as having magical qualities... meaning she can damage Servants. It is treated as a Personal Skill for her to use any weapon she gets her hands on in this manner - the skill is derived from her using these modern tools to defeat Witches.

And so, the story continues.

- Eldest Tempest

The sound of the device Tokiomi used to communicate with his spy was the first thing to greet Kirei, as he trod down the steps into the workshop. Assassin, accompanying her Master to the estate as Tokiomi had instructed, remained near ground level, on guard and allowing Kirei to initially speak with his master alone. The Tohsaka patriarch had his back to the stairway, viewing the report with apparent interest. As the device ceased its writing motions, Tokiomi picked up a knife and carved through the paper, picking up the report before the ink even had time to dry.

"That device always strikes me as being indecent," Kirei commented, as he strode further into the workshop. Tokiomi was a magus who highly valued old traditions. Whilst Kirei acknowledged the importance of technology in today's society, Tokiomi abhorred it, preferring instead to use alternatives obtainable by Magecraft. This particular alternative was a jewel magic perpetuated by the Tohsaka family for generations and intended for long-distance communication. The jewel upon the utensil was matched to a rock possessed by the spy. When the spy needed to communicate something to Tokiomi, he would use the rock and the information would be transcribed by Tokiomi's equipment in real time. Impressive though it was, Kirei personally preferred more accessible means of communication.

"Hmmm." Tokiomi chuckled. "There's a report from the Clock Tower. It looks like Lord El-Melloi has acquired another relic. His participation in the war is certain now." As Tokiomi had suspected, the Archibald magus had lost his first catalyst. The report from the spy, however, indicated that he had found a replacement.

"It troubles me that two of the slots are still unaccounted for," Kirei confided. With five Masters now confirmed, there remained only two others who had yet to receive Command Seals. Whom either of them could be, Kirei did not know, but it was wise to exercise caution nonetheless. Either of the two Masters could be a powerful magus that could greatly upset the plans Tokiomi had carefully prepared.

"Don't worry," Tokiomi said, as he turned to face Kirei. "When the time comes, the Grail will select seven, regardless of skill. The ones it selects to round out the group are, well… often weak and inexperienced. Don't concern yourself."

Tokiomi turned away from the device and began pacing towards the opposite end of the table from Kirei. "Speaking of matters of real concern, Kirei, I trust that no one followed you or saw you enter the mansion."

"No, don't worry," Kirei replied. "No Familiars or devices, visible or invisible, are watching me or this mansion right now. On that-"

"You have my guarantee," a voice cut in, finishing Kirei's sentence for him. Both of the Masters turned their heads to view the source.

Assassin stood at the entrance to the workshop, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed before her. Kirei noted that she had since changed back to the outfit she was summoned in while he was speaking with Tokiomi. A quick glance at his master informed him that he was just as taken aback about the Servant's appearance as Kirei's father had been, even after Kirei had explained the perplexity of the Fourth Grail War's Assassin to him.

"Regardless of whether they use Magecraft or more modern tools," Assassin continued, "nothing remains undetectable to me. There is no trace of anyone following my Master or watching this house. I made certain of that." Assassin paused for a moment, as though considering something, and, almost as an afterthought, disengaged from her present posture, and offered a polite bow at the two Masters.

"Mister Tohsaka," she acknowledged.

"If a Servant has been manifested by another Master, my father is certain to be aware of it," Kirei observed. "The other magi will not take action. At least, for a little while longer."

As the Overseer of the Fourth Heaven's Feel, Risei Kotomine was given certain tools with which to monitor the war. Although the Overseer did not know the identity of the Masters until they revealed themselves, the number of Servants and their respective classes was knowledge that would prove very useful. Thus far, only Assassin had been summoned into the Holy Grail War.

Even so, while Tokiomi had little concern about the other two Masters, Kirei did not feel the same way. His master was an optimist, and completely confident in his skills as a magus. Though Kirei did not doubt him, or his own skill, it would be foolish to let one's guard down in the face of the unknown. In Kirei's line of work, there was no such thing as being too careful.

"Assassin, you may go," Kirei ordered. "Continue guarding the surrounding area."

"… As you wish," Assassin replied, with evident reluctance. Kirei had noticed his Servant took umbrage with any perceived insults and was undoubtedly still boiling with fury regarding the matter of alliance. Regardless of her thoughts on the matter, Assassin straightened up, and turned to exit the workshop, footfalls resounding on the steps.

The communications device abruptly flared to life once again as Assassin departed, furiously inscribing a new message for its recipient.

"It's only a matter of time before that changes," Tokiomi observed, referring to the other Masters, as he turned and walked over to the equipment. "Very soon now, this place will be swarming with Familiars and magical devices sent by other Masters to spy on me."

The instrument clicked to a stop, indicating that the most recent report had now finished.

"What is that?" Kirei inquired, directing his gaze to the report. He was unaware that there was anyone else Tokiomi was watching in the Clock Tower.

"Another investigation. I've been gathering what information I can on the Einzbern Master," he replied, using the knife to once again separate the report from the rest of the parchment. Tokiomi then picked up the paper and looked it over. "Nine years ago, the Einzberns, a family notoriously proud of their pure blood, suddenly allowed an outsider magus to marry into the family."

Kirei watched silently, waiting for his master to continue.

"The Einzbern magi have devoted themselves solely to alchemy, rendering them unfit for combat," Tokiomi explained. "Their losses in previous Grail Wars can all be traced to that fact. They must have finally run out of patience."

Tokiomi seemed to pause, as though he was still digesting the information.

"The man they chose… was perfect for their needs."

Something within those words piqued Kirei's interest. Perhaps it was the way it had been phrased, but something about it seemed to suggest the man was unlike most magi.

"Kiritsugu Emiya," Tokiomi uttered, as he turned to face his student. "The man known as the Magus Killer."

As the man's identity was pronounced, the name resounded through Kirei like lightning, electrifying his senses. "… Kiritsugu Emiya," he repeated, as he began to walk towards Tokiomi. "Yes, I know that name."

"So, even the Holy Church has heard of this man…" Tokiomi mused, passing the report to Kirei. "Kiritsugu Emiya, the Magus Killer, was quite infamous in his time. Officially, he was a rogue magus who didn't belong to the Association, but the higher-ups found him, shall we say… convenient for their own purposes," he finished, as he began pacing the workshop.

"It sounds to me like he was quite similar to us. Executors, for the Holy Church," Kirei observed.

"Far worse, I assure you." Tokiomi ceased pacing and took a seat at the table. "He spent his life as a freelance master assassin who specializes in exterminating magi. He knows what magi are capable of, so he deals with them in a way that is as unlike a magus as possible."

Tokiomi glanced over at Kirei. "Read that," he instructed.

Kirei looked down at the parchment, eyes scanning across each word as he began to read parts of the report aloud. "'Sniping. Poisoning. Bombs in public places. He once brought down an entire jetliner just because his target was on it.'"

The list continued, and Kirei's wonder only grew. There appeared to be no limit to what the Magus Killer was willing to do.

"A man who will do anything without a second thought," Tokiomi summarized, gaze turning to the communications device. "It is because magi function outside the laws of the regular world that we must diligently obey the strict laws that we have set for ourselves – but this man lacks even a single trace of a magus' pride or honor. The methods he employs are unforgivable."

"Then, tell me," Kirei said, as Tokiomi looked back at him. "What does this 'Kiritsugu Emiya' gain… by hiring himself out as a killer?"

"Money, I would imagine," Tokiomi posited. "As you can read in that report, he's been involved in more than just magus assassinations. He's appeared in warzones all over the planet, offering his services as a mercenary."

"I see…" Kirei said, mentally digesting this newfound information. Then, he looked up at his master. "May I borrow this… for a while?" he requested.

Tokiomi nodded. "Of course – I have no further need of it. Should you glean any additional information from that, do not hesitate to inform me, but I suspect there will be little to discuss. Kiritsugu Emiya may be dangerous, but with the Servant I intend to summon, there is minimal cause for concern. In the meantime, I have other matters to attend to." As he finished speaking, Tokiomi stood from his seat and exited in the same manner that Kirei's Servant had.

Kirei's gaze returned to the report, as his master left. It seemed his concerns for the Holy Grail War were not unfounded, after all. Already, a challenging opponent had presented himself. He would have to devise some method of eliminating him – in a manner different from what he normally employed against standard magi.

"He sounds like a formidable opponent," a voice spoke, cutting into his thoughts.

Kirei pivoted instantly, instincts from his training taking over as he manifested a few Black Keys to confront the source.

His Servant stood there, offering no reaction to her Master's display.

"… Assassin," Kirei stated, dispelling his Black Keys, and relaxing his stance somewhat. "You were ordered to guard the estate."

"And I am," Assassin retorted. "Although master Tohsaka abhors it, you and I are both aware of what the breakthroughs of the modern world can achieve. Rest assured, Master, the estate is secure and under constant surveillance. The other Masters likely will not notice. Electronic security is the last thing anybody would expect in the home of a purist magus such as Tokiomi Tohsaka."

Kirei had to admit the benefits of that particular plan. "And how is it that you were not seen re-entering the workshop?" he inquired. "You do not possess a spiritual form."

"Presence Concealment," she answered shortly, running a hand through her hair and tossing it back. The motion gave Kirei some mild annoyance. Vanity was one of many sins in the Church, and Kirei was a devout man of God… wasn't he?

"So long as nobody is outright searching for me, I am able to blend in with my surroundings. I regret to say that it does not match the level of this 'Hassan-i-Sabbah' you were expecting," Assassin continued. "Unlike him, however, you will find that I am far more capable of taking direct action within the Holy Grail War."

Of that, Assassin had been particularly desperate to prove. On her return from her reconnaissance in Fuyuki, she had brought with her an armory's worth of weaponry magically stored within the buckler she carried. In fact, Assassin seemed utterly fixated on proving her usefulness to Kirei, a fixation bordering on fanaticism. Something seemed to drive his Servant, but just as he was incapable of describing his own emptiness, he could not determine what it was that drove Assassin.

"May I listen to the rest?" Assassin asked, gesturing to the report. "I would also like to know what our enemy is capable of, so that I may take the appropriate precautions. If he is truly as different from the other magi as mister Tohsaka says he is, then we both need to know the full extent of his abilities."

Kirei nodded, taking some solace in the fact that he was not the only one who sought to ensure no unexpected dilemmas crossed into their path. "Very well."

His gaze returned to the report compiled by Tokiomi's contact. Shuffling through some miscellaneous details, he continued to read. "'Kiritsugu Emiya… his assassinations were always carried out in clusters over a relatively short period of time. During the same general time periods, he appeared in a number of warzones – but only when the combat was at its fiercest. It was almost as if he had some obsession with chasing his own death. These were clearly the actions of a man bent on suicide.'"

Kirei paused as he finished reading the report. "… So then why is he doing this?" he wondered aloud.

"For different reasons than what mister Tohsaka envisions, I imagine," Assassin quietly replied, standing at the opposite end of the table, arms folded once again.

Kirei inclined his head in agreement. "He has no concept of self-interest. His actions are… completely disconnected from any thought of risk versus reward. No way… there's no way he's just a freelancer in it for the money."

If not for the money, then what? What was it that could drive a man to increasingly reckless actions? What was it that compelled him to look into the jaws of death, the endless black abyss? What could possibly encourage all of that?

"Then… what is he after?" Kirei asked, vocalizing his thoughts aloud.

"If it isn't the money?" Assassin seemed to give the matter some thought, turning her head in the direction of the stairwell for a few moments.

"Some people, I suppose," Assassin finally answered, turning back to Kirei, "simply have dreams and ideals that are worth fighting for."

"And are you… one of those people, Assassin?" Kirei inquired. His Servant, it seemed, had secrets of her own – secrets that bore a disquieting similarity to those surrounding Kiritsugu Emiya.

Assassin's gaze didn't waver. On the contrary, it seemed to intensify. "Perhaps. Who knows? In the meantime, Master, mister Tohsaka's family is leaving today. If you'd like to say farewell, you will need to do it soon."

"Then it appears we will have to continue this discussion later," Kirei replied, setting down the report. He began to walk toward the stairs, while Assassin followed from behind.

Kiritsugu Emiya… Kirei reflected, his endless string of battles came to a sudden halt nine years ago. He virtually vanished from sight. It appears that his final encounter with the magi of the north, the Einzberns, is where he at last found his answer.

He came to a halt at the bottom of the stairwell.

So… I must ask the question. What did he seek in those battles? What was he looking for?

Kirei turned to gaze at the workshop again, as he quietly condensed a small burst of prana into a flame that consumed the entire report. Kirei watched as the flames swiftly devoured the parchment, before continuing his sojourn up the stairs.

And what exactly did he find?

Rin Tohsaka was not prepared.

In all of her years of life, nothing had prepared her for the insurmountable challenge that now lay before her. Not even her diligent study under her father as his pupil in Magecraft had given any indication of this titanic obstacle in her path. The True Magic itself could not humble the monstrous leviathan that conquered all who dared challenge it.

This was, of course, the luggage.

Naturally, she had been informed that they were moving out for a few days, while her father fought in the Holy Grail War. She had, of course, accounted for all the details that would go into such an action. It need not be said that a Tohsaka was well-adapted to any occasion. Rin had taken great pride in the fact that, regardless of how small and simplistic such a thing as a temporary change in housing was, she would be ready for it.

She had not, however, expected the luggage.

Unwilling to allow herself to appear weak, especially with the priest in the household, Rin had volunteered to take her own suitcase out.

Unfortunately, she hadn't accounted for its weight.

Thus, here she was, struggling through the hallways of the Tohsaka manse, with a suitcase about half her size.

She still held some resentment over the fact she was being forced to leave in the first place. Certainly, she could understand the reasons for it. If there was one thing that Rin Tohsaka would adamantly refuse to say under any circumstances, it was that she was inexperienced at Magecraft. As loath as she was to admit it, though, her continued presence in the Tohsaka manse would serve only as an obstruction to her father's plans. Therefore, she had agreed, albeit grudgingly, to allow herself to reside with her grandparents until the war ended.

That wasn't to say that her grandparents were bad. On the contrary, they were nice, hospitable people, a trait her mother had no doubt inherited – and a rarity amongst some other magi that her father had mentioned.

No, the reason she was so reluctant to leave the Tohsaka manse was not because of her destination – but who she was leaving her father with.

Kirei Kotomine. He had first begun studying under her father three years ago, and had quickly surpassed her, a feat that she was not willing to accept.

That wasn't the only reason she disliked him, of course. He was a cold, distant man, a stark contrast to her father. Any time Kirei made an attempt at acting pleasantly towards her, Rin knew it was only a formality. His words were as empty of meaning as the man that spoke them.

She stumbled a little, as she was temporarily lost in thought. Quickly correcting the path of the suitcase, and checking to see that nobody had witnessed her most assuredly mild blunder, Rin continued struggling to direct the accursed thing to the front entrance, grunting with effort as she did so.

"Hello, Rin."

She started, not expecting to hear somebody's voice, and directed her eyes from the suitcase to the source.

Speak of the priest.

Kirei Kotomine stood at the stairwell leading to the upper stories of the house, left arm resting on the banister. The sunlight from the window behind him seemed to give him a slight illumination, as though openly mocking Rin's conviction about Kirei.

She pouted and assumed her best aloof attitude. "Oh, hello, Kirei," she stated in an openly hostile manner as the priest stepped down to the bottom of the stairs.

"Heading out?" Kirei inquired, completely unphased by her attitude. "That's some heavy luggage you have there."

Of that, she was perfectly aware – but to admit that to Kirei Kotomine? To partly imply that she was incapable of managing such a thing as luggage? Gaia forbid that.

"That's right," she stiffly replied, turning her head to the side. "I have to go live with the Zenjou family for a while."

She paused, as an idea struck her. One last chance for the priest to redeem himself. With some reluctance, she glanced back at Kirei. "You're staying to fight alongside my father in the coming war, aren't you?"

"That's why I'm here as his student. To help him and to learn from him," Kirei replied, as though it were obvious.

A spark of irritation hit her. Of course she knew that. Did he believe that just because he had progressed further in his studies that she was inferior, unaware of the goings-on around her own household? The Tohsaka heiress inwardly ranted, but managed to rein her anger in. Outwardly, however, she digested the answer as she once again turned away from Kirei.

After some moments of silence, she spoke again. "Kirei," she asked, "can I depend on you?"

"Huh?" Kirei seemed genuinely perplexed by the question and Rin's abrupt change in attitude. Quite possibly one of the few times she had seen any hint of emotion.

"Will you promise to protect my father to the end?" she said. "Will you promise to keep him safe?"

His expression just as swiftly metamorphosed back into its apathetic neutrality. "I'm sorry, but that's impossible," he answered. "If this battle were going to be simple enough that I could honestly make that promise… we wouldn't have to send you or your mother away from here to keep you safe and sound."

Now the irritation overran any hopes that it could be contained, as she glared at the priest. Kirei's answer wasn't what she had wanted to hear, and to add insult to injury, he continued to treat her as a mere child. She was a Tohsaka!

"I guess that means…" she began, "I just can't like you no matter what!"

"Rin, you shouldn't just blurt out what you're really thinking like that," Kirei noted, evidently preparing to launch into a lecture to make her appear foolish. "People might start to cast aspersions on your father. He is the man who is educating you, after all."

"My father has nothing to do with it!" Rin exploded. How dare he bring her father into this. "Listen, Kirei! If you somehow get sloppy, and because of that, my father gets hurt or worse, I'll show you no mercy, got it?!"

"Rin, what are you doing out there? Why are you yelling at him?"

Instantly, her anger evaporated, as she heard her mother's voice and footsteps from behind. She hesitantly turned around, fidgeting as she quickly tried to force sensible words to come out of her mouth.

"Uh… Um… I… Well, you see…"

"Oh, she was just… giving me a bit of encouragement before we said goodbye, ma'am," Kirei fluidly answered.

Rin's expression changed from apologetic to a scowl in only a moment, as she immediately turned to glare at Kirei. That was not how things were going! On the contrary, if her mother hadn't intervened, she would have given Kirei a piece of her mind!

"Rin, allow me," Kirei said, pretending not to notice her evident fury. "That big suitcase is far too heavy for you to carry alone."

"No thank you, I'll carry it myself!" Rin defiantly replied, seizing the suitcase and dragging it away towards her mother with her head held high.

"Kirei… do your best to take care of my husband. Please help him to achieve his desire." Rin paused as she saw her mother politely bow her head to Kirei, the honored guest of the household. Her irritation remained, although there was hardly anything she could do, as she stepped behind her mother to get to the entrance hallway.

"I will do my best. Please don't worry," Kirei evenly stated… a far politer version of what he had told Rin.

Rin stopped. As a final gesture of farewell, she stepped out from behind the cover of her mother, pulled down her right eyelid, and stuck her tongue out at Kirei. A little childish, perhaps, but the meaning was no doubt received as intended. Her goal achieved, with her mother not noticing and Kirei likely pretending not to notice, she set off for the front door, eager to get away from the priest.

"… Miss Tohsaka?"

For the third time in a matter of minutes, Rin had been accosted by somebody's voice. Whipping her head around to view the source, she was ready to unleash a verbal barrage on whomever it was.

The opening words died in her throat as she saw just who exactly was addressing her.

Kirei's Servant stepped into view, no doubt having stood there for some time, completely unnoticed. She was certainly dressed as her father had described: in the attire that represented her era of origin. While it was a little different from the fashion of today's era, it didn't seem as though it came from the distant past. Kirei's Servant really did seem to be an 'anomaly,' as her father described it.

"… Yes?" she quietly asked.

"Are you alright?" Kirei's Servant, Assassin, she just now remembered, inquired. She took a few steps closer.

Rin became rather aware of the fact that she had just said some unpleasant things to Assassin's Master. Assassin had no doubt been in earshot of that…

"M-Mhmhm!" she nervously answered, giving a half-hearted nod for extra effect.

Assassin stopped a few feet away from Rin, looking down at her. "… There's no need to be afraid. Like my Master, I am not your enemy. I'm here to help mister Tohsaka win the Holy Grail."

"If you're Kirei's Servant, then I…" she paused, trying to find the right words. "Then I just can't trust or like you either!"

"Oh? And why is that? Is it because of your animosity towards my Master… or because you don't think I can keep mister Tohsaka safe?" Assassin asked.

Rin froze, her words that she had prepared as an icy retort sinking back down inside her.

"… Both, I guess," she said, slumping her shoulders.

"I see." Assassin nodded at her answer. "I heard the exchange in the other room. Unfortunately, my Master is correct. Neither he nor I can guarantee mister Tohsaka's safety."

Rin began to pout once more.

"… However, I will do whatever I can to keep him safe. Is that an acceptable compromise?" Assassin knelt down to be at eye-level with Rin.

Rin raised her eyes to look at Assassin. While Assassin's words seemed about as ineffectual as Kirei's, her tone betrayed a slight hint of… sincerity?

It was difficult to tell, but it was there. Although Assassin seemed like the kind of person to keep their true feelings to themselves, Rin knew that, this time at least, she meant what she said.

"… Okay," she managed. "You'll really keep him safe?"

Assassin nodded again. "As best as I am able."

"Right… then…" Rin re-assumed her ladylike dignity as a Tohsaka. "As the daughter of Tokiomi Tohsaka, I command you to keep my father safe, no matter what!"

Assassin gave a slight smile at that. "As my lady commands." She straightened up, peering outside of the door. "You had best get your luggage in the trunk. We wouldn't want Rin Tohsaka to have a reputation for being idle when she accepts a challenge."

"A-Ah!" Rin panicked. She tugged at the suitcase once again, eager to get it out of the door. As she raced down the front yard of the estate towards the waiting car, she turned her head to look behind her.

Assassin had since vanished from sight, no doubt continuing her surveillance of the estate. Already, the Heroic Spirit had acted in accordance with her promise.

Rin smiled at that.

Assassin, the Servant who specialized in disappearing without a trace, may have left – but her sentiment hadn't.

Having dealt with the undesirable matter of saying farewell to his mentor's family, Kirei now arrived at the doorway to Tokiomi's study. Several hours had elapsed since their earlier conversation, and Tokiomi now wanted to speak with him again. Noting that the door was presently shut, Kirei raised his hand and politely knocked on the door a few times, before pulling down on the handle and opening the door.

"Excuse me," he said, as he stepped into the room.

The study was a spacious part of the Tohsaka mansion, no doubt to allow for its owner to study the various parts of Magecraft when the workshop did not suffice. Two sofas faced each other, a coffee table interposed between them. At the opposite end of the room, Tokiomi's desk, along with a standing lamp located to Kirei's left, was situated a few meters in front of a set of French doors that led out to a balcony. Velvet curtains, tall enough to cover the entire balcony, or the study it led into, from sight, hung near the ceiling. While it could serve as a means of protecting one from the sun's rays, Kirei also suspected it was to conceal anything of import that Tokiomi was working on.

Tokiomi himself stood between the coffee table and the sofa to Kirei's right, turning his head to Kirei as he spoke.

"You've arrived at a very opportune time," Tokiomi noted, as Kirei closed the door behind him and stepped over to the table. "The relic I made arrangements for finally arrived this morning." The Tohsaka patriarch's gaze returned to the table, a small smile of satisfaction sculpted on his face.

"Have a look," he invited.

Kirei wondered why it had taken so much time to announce this, but nevertheless examined the object, the presumed relic, that Tokiomi had placed on the table. The relic in question had been placed within a box carved from stone. The lid had been mostly removed and was resting on a small corner of the box.

It was the actual contents that concerned Kirei more, however. It was a sample taken from the earth. He was able to discern that much. Imbedded within the dirt, a peculiar object had contorted over itself at several intervals, forming a shape that was almost like a pretzel in appearance. Whatever it was, it certainly wasn't placed in the dirt by mortal hands – it seemed as though the dirt and the relic had been excavated from the same site.

"What is it?" Kirei asked, turning to look at his mentor.

Tokiomi chuckled to himself, either because Kirei's question proved amusing or because he was very satisfied with the item he had managed to procure. "A fossil – of the very first skin shed by a snake on this world. If we use it as a catalyst, and are lucky enough to summon the Heroic Spirit that we're after, total victory is as good as ours."

"Are you concerned that something may go wrong during the evocation?" Kirei inquired.

Tokiomi turned to face his student. "It is the worry of every magus that something might go wrong in the ritual. A misstep, an interruption, a dismissal." The Tohsaka patriarch waved his hand to illustrate his point. "Although such a thing is entirely possible, I am confident that the ritual will proceed smoothly. Regrettably, that will come at the cost of any gemstones I have remaining that are filled with prana."

Kirei nodded. There were several ways in which to create the summoning circle that anchored a Heroic Spirit to the material world. Blood was a common ingredient, although other substances such as mercury or prana-infused gems would suffice as substitutes.

"My Servant shall be summoned tonight," Tokiomi decided. "Provided that no other Masters are spying on the estate, you may be present. Father Risei as well."

"My father too?" That came as a surprise.

Tokiomi smiled. "Of course. As we are all allies in this endeavor, I would like to share this momentous occasion with everyone."

"… I will speak with him about it, then," Kirei said. "I will go at once."

"Very well. Return within a few hours – it would be a shame for you to miss it." Tokiomi's tone was practically bubbling with anticipation for the power he intended to unleash.

As Kirei slipped out of the study, and shut the door behind him, he contemplated the day's events.

Tokiomi seemed to be utterly confident that his Servant would decimate all opponents that dared to challenge him. Perhaps it was his optimism, or perhaps it was his inherent pride as a 'pure' magus, that the very idea of defeat to lower magi was inconceivable within his mind.

Kirei did not share that sentiment. His earlier concerns about the other Masters had redoubled themselves when he had learned about Kiritsugu Emiya.

The Magus Killer. Unconventional. Deadly. Efficient.

An eerie reflection of himself – but with one crucial difference.

Kiritsugu Emiya had found a purpose.

Kirei Kotomine had not.

The emptiness within his soul distressed him. With any luck, Kiritsugu Emiya would hold the key to what troubled him.

In the meantime, however, he would have to guard against any offensives from other Masters. He knew not what the other four Masters could accomplish and barely knew what the Magus Killer was capable of. He would have to be extra cautious around Kiritsugu Emiya. The unorthodox magus had already claimed the lives of numerous magi in his lifetime.

And Tokiomi Tohsaka, rooted within the firm structures that his own hubris had designed for him, seemed exactly the sort of person that would be one of his first victims.

In the workshop beneath his mansion, Tokiomi Tohsaka's pulse raced with exhilaration.

Tonight. It would be tonight, right now, when he would summon his Servant. It had taken immeasurable resources and called-in favors to obtain the relic he would now use as his catalyst. It would be on this night where Tokiomi would see if the effort he had exerted would pay off.

Not that he doubted his capabilities, of course. A Tohsaka, descendant of one of the three great magi who designed the Heaven's Feel, to be denied a Servant? Ridiculous. Such a thing went beyond the bounds of probability.

Still, this particular Servant he intended to summon was a troubling matter. He was fully anticipating the Heroic Spirit to be powerful without compare. No question as to whether the other Servants would be wiped off the face of the Earth.

No, the true question was whether the Heroic Spirit would be willing to accept him as his Master. Some Heroic Spirits were rather prideful in life, and such personality traits were often transferred into the Holy Grail War. There had been some isolated incidents that Tokiomi had heard about where a Servant would outright turn on their Master. It was nothing that he felt he had to worry about, but the idea of his Servant refusing to accept him as their Master, or even heeding the call in the first place, gave him some measure of unease. And considering the particular Servant he was attempting to summon, well…

Beside him, off to his left, Kirei Kotomine and Father Risei stood, waiting for the incantation to begin. As fortune had it, no Familiars had yet been deployed to the estate. Good. All the more likely that surprise would be on his side when his Servant finally struck. How he would relish the looks of shock on men such as Kariya Matou or the Magus Killer.

Kirei was evidently perturbed by Kiritsugu Emiya, but Tokiomi paid that no mind. On previous occasions, he may have had cause to fear him, but not here. Not now. Kiritsugu Emiya would fall like all the others and a serious danger to Magecraft would be removed in the same stroke.

Even so, Tokiomi could tell that something more was bothering Kirei. There was something about that man that escaped his comprehension. He had first attributed it to the pressure of the war, perhaps even the death of his wife, from which Father Risei hoped the Holy Grail War would serve as a good distraction. Now, however… Now he wasn't so sure.

Kirei's Servant remained on ground level, keeping watch should any Familiar show itself at this late hour. Unlikely, he reflected. With how close it was to the Holy Grail's estimated time of manifestation, most, if not all, other Masters would be summoning their Servants. Still, he allowed Kirei that small caution at least. Confident as he was in his skills as a magus, Tokiomi was not sloppy.

Father Risei looked up from his timepiece. "It's time," he announced.

Tokiomi took a deep breath, eyes fixating themselves on the summoning circle. The gems had been melted down to serve as the substance with which to trace the circle. The prana contained within them would be more than enough to serve as the conduit for the evocation.

Thus prepared for the most formidable task of his lifetime, Tokiomi began to speak the necessary words.

"Fill. Fill. Fill. Fill. Fill. Repeat five times. As each is fulfilled, so must it be destroyed."

Tokiomi had little doubt that the same words were currently being mimicked by the other Masters of the Holy Grail War. He closed his eyes to further concentrate on the initial phrases, holding at chest level, his Mystic Code, the jewel-tipped staff he occasionally carried.

"For the elements silver and iron, the foundation stone, and the Archduke of Pacts, and for my great master, Schweinorg, raise a wall against the wind and close the gates of four directions. Come forth from the crown and follow the forked road leading to the kingdom."

Tokiomi opened his eyes as he discarded his staff, now thrusting out the arm which carried his three Command Seals.

"I call to thee. Thy body, borne of my will. My fate, resting on thy sword. If thou dost accede to this will and reason, heed the Grail's call, and give your answer."

The summoning circle began to emit a low hum, as the molten essence of the gems began to glow with pure power, a polychromatic light emanating from them.

"I hereby swear that I shall be all the good in the world. That I shall defeat all evil in the world."

Inwardly, Tokiomi knew that somewhere, right after the lines he had just spoken, that one of the other Masters would be speaking the words necessary to enact Mad Enhancement – the curse responsible for the Berserker-class Servant.

And let thine eyes be clouded with the fog of turmoil and chaos, thou who art trapped in a cage of madness, and I, the summoner, who holds thy chains!

The light and sound intensified, rising in volume and brightness. It was almost blinding to look upon, and the sound had now reached a near-deafening high-pitched whirring.

"Seventh Heaven clad in the great words of power," Tokiomi's other hand gripped onto the arm he had thrust forth, the sheer rush of prana sweeping over him like a tidal wave. "Come forth from the circle of binding, Guardian of Scales!"

Just before the light engulfed the workshop entirely, Tokiomi caught a glimpse of Kirei raising his arm to shield his eyes.

Tokiomi, on the other hand, kept his eyes open. He would witness his Servant's arrival in all of its glory.

As the light died down, and the smoke began to dissipate, Tokiomi was able to get a good look at his Servant.

A tall figure, clad in golden armor, stood within the summoning circle. His head was not covered by any armor, but blonde hair, sticking up like fire, rose from his crown. The Servant wore golden earrings in both ears, and indeed, 'gold' was an accurate description for him in general.

The exception to this was the crimson irises within his eyes, which gave off a slightly unsettling radiance.

His Servant's expression was one of a barely perceptible frown, but Tokiomi was the opposite. He had done it. He had summoned the Servant he desired. Nothing would stand in their way.

"Behold him, Kirei…" Tokiomi uttered with awe. "We have won the battle." He stretched out his arms to illustrate the effect. "Victory is ours!"

His Servant then chose that moment to speak.

"I ask you," he said, his tone that of a king addressing his lowly subject. "Are you the one who summoned me?"

As Tokiomi Tohsaka was summoning his Servant, Assassin stood in the front yard of the estate, leaning against the walls of the manor, keeping watch.

It was a necessary precaution. On a night where Tokiomi Tohsaka's absolute focus would be on the summoning, it fell to Assassin to ensure that everything proceeded smoothly. Privately, Assassin doubted that anything would be amiss – tonight was a particularly good time to summon one's Servant, due both to the magical properties of the ley lines and that the other Masters would have logically settled in by now. Their focus would likely be on their own summoning rituals.

Still, Assassin had experienced far too many failed timelines to write off any possibility. Thus, she had complied with her Master's request to stand watch, accompanied only by the night sky and a full moon aglow with luminous splendor.

It also provided her with a convenient amount of time to reflect on her current situation and ponder the day's events.

Her initial impressions of Tokiomi Tohsaka were… not as impressive as she thought they might be. The patriarch of one of the Three Great Families, Assassin had expected him to appear more… powerful, to show why he was the mentor and Kirei the student.

Such a thing never materialized. On the contrary, he seemed rather mellow. To be certain, he had a considerable interest in the Holy Grail, but… that was it. Interest. As though it were some fascinating artifact to keep out of the hands of the lesser folk, lest they sunder it with their undeveloped minds.

Tokiomi Tohsaka's wish for the Holy Grail was to enter Akasha – the pinnacle of a magus' desire. To enter Akasha was to learn of the True Magic. To obtain the True Magic was to obtain nigh-omnipotence.

Was it a lofty goal? Certainly. Ambitious, even. For such a powerful wish as that, others would undoubtedly want to claim the might of the Holy Grail.

Which was precisely why Assassin could not understand why Tokiomi Tohsaka treated this all as if it were a game. She had heard the Tohsaka patriarch boast about the unparalleled might of his Servant, how winning the Grail War would be child's play.

Evidently, he did not consider the other Masters to be a considerable threat – a fact that worried her.

Most especially concerning Kiritsugu Emiya.

Assassin could guess almost immediately what sort of person Kiritsugu Emiya was, and what lengths he would go to, from the report Kirei had been reading. She would know best, of course.

It felt as though someone had glimpsed all of her struggles, all of her failed attempts to rescue Madoka and then committed it to paper.

There was something beyond money driving him, on that both Servant and Master agreed. What it was specifically, Assassin could only guess. She assumed that it was something immensely personal, something that only Kiritsugu Emiya felt he could achieve. No desire for wealth would propel a man to such lengths.

And now, after having apparently settled down for almost a decade, the Magus Killer was resurfacing to add more tallies to his name.

That gave Assassin some idea of his motives: his desire was something only the Grail could satisfy. Whatever the Einzbern family gave him, it was insufficient for his needs.

And so, he would have to fight for his dreams, pitted against six other Masters in a deadly battle for an omnipotent wish-granting device.

A blinding burst of light suddenly emanated from the window next to Assassin, causing her to reflexively throw her left arm in front of her face to shield her eyes. After only a few moments, it dimmed and died, metamorphosing once more into the quiet darkness within the manse.

So, Tokiomi Tohsaka had done it, Assassin noted, as she lowered her arm. His Servant had now manifested into the physical plane, ready to do battle as one of the Grail's seven combatants.

Assassin directed her gaze upwards at the full moon shining down on quiet, tranquil Fuyuki.

Soon. Soon, the city would play host a fourth time to a clash unlike any seen in history. Soon, six Servants and Masters would each fall to accommodate the desires of the victors. Soon, a wish that had the potential to change the very fabric of the universe would be made.

Soon, Assassin would fight for the sake of her dearest, most precious friend.

All the pieces were in place – now Assassin only had to win the game.

The Fourth Holy Grail War had begun.

And that's that.

Comparatively speaking, this chapter lacks far more original content than chapter 1, which had entirely original scenes. This chapter is essentially an adaptation of the scenes involving Kirei and Tokiomi in the first episode of the show. Ergo, as significant events haven't radically altered the storyline, the plot progresses in much the same way.

There are some exceptions and additions to this rule. Kirei's Servant, Homura, plays an active role during his deliberations on the topic of Kiritsugu Emiya. The intent of the scene is to begin to build up a compare-and-contrast between Kirei, Kiritsugu, and Homura. In many ways, Homura and Kiritsugu are similar, particularly when it comes to the methodical execution of their plans. They also have their fair share of differences, something which will likely be revealed further on in the story.

We also got to see some beginning interaction between Homura and Rin. While in the show, we only explicitly see Homura's devotion to Madoka, she is as equally concerned about her fellow magical girls - they only faded to the side as it became increasingly unlikely that they could be saved too. Homura is, for the moment, free from the endless, cyclical purgatory of the Mitakihara timeline - it stands to reason that she can hope for more than just saving Madoka, although that is her primary objective. Homura also has a soft spot for kids, which is evidenced in her interaction with Tatsuya in the final episode. She doesn't want the sort of strife she and her friends had endured in Mitakihara to happen to Rin as well, hence her promise to protect a rival Master who she would happily eliminate if given the command. It'll be interesting to see how that promise may be tested in future chapters.

The third scene is, again, an adaptation, but I expanded considerably on a scene that, all told, lasts for about a minute. It would be odd to break off at the point they did in narrative format, so I took the opportunity to delve into the character relationships a bit more, as well as Kirei's increasingly concerned thoughts on the Holy Grail War. In Kirei's view, it's quite likely Tokiomi would be one of Kiritsugu's first victims if he isn't careful, thus scuppering the plans that the Holy Church had made. Tokiomi is the proud master with invulnerable pride and confidence in his own success. Kirei is the cautious student seeking to avert any potential calamities that could befall either of them.

Now for the summoning scene. I won't delve into this scene much, although I'm sure readers will notice the lines used for the summoning ritual. This is a Frankenstein of various translations (about three or four, if I remember correctly). I primarily relied on the English dub script as the main source, although some lines were changed to feel more in line with earlier translations that gave a more spiritual feeling.

In the final scene, Homura shares Kirei's concerns about Tokiomi and his interest in Kiritsugu. Homura also compares Kiritsugu to herself, just as Kirei did at the beginning. Both of them yearn to know the reason for his entry into the war - Kirei wishes to find his own purpose in this mission, while Homura views him more as an interesting adversary. She sees a mirror of herself in him, but even this must be shattered if she is to fulfill her own goal of saving Madoka.

That's chapter 2, everyone! Chapter 3 will feature a mixture of original and adapted scenes and will conclude the preparation phase of the war. Once that's done, the action starts!

Until then!

- Eldest Tempest