Jayr POV - Nasuverse, Moon, SE.RA.PH, Tsukumihara Academy - 2030 AD
The crowd has not yet thinned as Masters, and their hidden Servants, still cluster around the bulletin board, murmuring, whispering, jostling as if knowing the names written there are more lethal than any blade.
I linger at the edge of the crowd, Nero, she also invisible in her Spirit Form, beside me, her presence humming in my link.
The name of my opponent stares back at me in stark white text, Run Ru.
I exhale slowly, lips pressing into a thin line while thinking, 'Run Ru. I know that name. Quite the tragic and "innocent" woman.'
Run Ru was once an ordinary woman, but the stillbirth of her child drove her to madness and left her unable to eat anything save for those she truly loved.
In the game Fate/EXTRA, she was the Master of Lancer, and claimed to have eaten her pet, her own parents, and even her own child out of love.
However, her Servant stated that she was exiled for consuming her dead child, but despite her delusions, she could actually not bring herself to eat her loved ones and ultimately starved herself to death.
In light of this, it is likely that her claims of eating her parents and pet are either self-deceptions or products of her insanity.
However, that doesn't change the fact that she is actually insane and has cannibalistic tendencies.
Her characterization is twisted to the point where her expressions of love are those of eating or food-related connotations of bizarre innocence.
She wants the Holy Grail to make all humanity like her, so that she won't be lonely anymore and will have more people to love and eat.
In the game, her Servant's true identity was that of Vlad III, the Prince of Wallachia.
He is a famous hero in Romanian history, a noble warrior who maintained the independence of Wallachia, and was as far as being described as the shield of the Christian world.
He is also known as Dracula, yes, that Dracula, which was nothing but the popular name most habitually used to refer to the lord of Wallachia, Vlad III.
Strictly speaking, it was Wladislaus Drakwlya. Standpoint-wise, because he was a duke appointed by the Eastern Roman Empire, he signed under the Roman-style.
This is derived from the fact that his father, Vlad II, was a member of the Order of the Dragon, among a total of 24 members, which was established by the Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund, who called himself Dracul, dragon lord.
In other words, because he was the child of Dracul, the pronunciation that holds the meaning "child" was added at the end, thus becoming Dracula.
Incidentally, the purpose of the Order of the Dragon was to protect the Christian world from Islamic influence.
There is the possibility that Vlad III took up the name of Dracula as a form of declaration of the intention of succeeding his father's will and safeguarding the Christian world from the Islamic Ottoman Empire.
Anyway, while Vlad III was surely Run Ru's Servant in the game, that doesn't mean that he is also her Servant currently.
After all, the presence of the other Champions and me has surely changed quite a few things. On top of that, this is the Nasuverse, and there are basically an infinite number of variations of the Moon Holy Grail War.
After quickly mentally going over everything I "know" about my opponent, I murmur, "Run Ru. An innocent monster... Quite the first opponent."
In response to that, I hear Nero scoff in my mind, every syllable dripping with pride, [Ha! Do not tell me you are worried, my Praetor. Our opponent may be a monster, but I will still slay it with a swing of my blade.]
Hearing that, I chuckle faintly before telephaticaly reply, [I am not really worried about our next opponent as I have complete faith in our power. It is just that I've learned to never let my confidence blind me and make me underestimate an opponent or a situation. Even more so, in a dangerous setting like this Holy Grail War. This is a lesson that I've learned the hard way during one of my many adventures.]
Nero hmph'd audibly, but I feel the flicker of curiosity behind her pride, which surely means that she is going to likely ask me to tell her the story of my adventures across the Omniverse sooner or later.
And then, out of the corner of my eye, I see her, my next opponent, Run Ru.
Run Ru's appearance is of a crazed young woman with short curly orange hair, where her bangs cover her right eye, and orange eyes.
Her face is covered with a white smiling clown mask with green eyeshadowing, a large red nose, and large red lips; however, I am still able to glimpse through it and notice that her expression is neutral, almost empty.
Her body movements are bizarre, like a crippled ragdoll when she moves.
Her physical frame is that of an extremely thin woman, which is given considering the fact that she is bulimic.
She wears a mascot costume of the popular hamburger shop called "LenLen Burger", which is, without any doubt, this world's version of McDonald's and its mascot Ronald McDonald, something further confirmed by the fact that Run Ru's is nicknamed Lil' Ronnie.
(Image Here - Run Ru)
She moves through the crowd without pushing, without drawing attention, more like drifting, and yet, a space opens around her, as if others instinctively avoid contact until she stops a few meters away from me.
Her gaze flickers across the board once, her lips move soundlessly, as if murmuring to herself, but likely talking with her Servants.
Then, as if perceiving my gaze, she early turns her head and focus one me.
Her beady eyes glisten dark and slimy, like a snake's before she says in an equally eerie and soft tone, "yEAh... I LiKE yOu... sUpER-DUpEr... sUpER-DUpEr... yoU LoOk yUmMy..."
While saying that, she sways to and fro in a bizarre dance before she slips away like a shadow through the throng.
Nero also takes notice of her as she comments, "So that is the visage of a jester these days. Hmpf, amusing. Perhaps this jester will make our eventual duel entertaining."
I tense for a moment, ready to follow, to learn a little bit more about her and her Servant, who, like all the other Servants, remains hidden in its Spirit Form, but then I freeze.
The reason for that is that, among the crowd, another familiar figure has caught my eye.
As soon as my gaze lands on that figure, my breath hitches, my senses sharpen instantly, honed by memory and pure instinct.
It is the figure of a young man with long, tied blonde hair, cold purple eyes, and a small, confident smile on his chiselled face.
He has a very tall and imposing body, full of well-defined muscles that can be observed even through his current outfit.
He's dressed neatly, the kind of look that balances authority with approachability.
A light blue button-down shirt, pressed crisp, is tucked into a pair of charcoal gray slacks. The shirt's collar sits straight, no tie, just simple and professional.
A brown leather belt keeps everything in place, matching the polished loafers on his feet.
Over it all, a navy blazer gives him that extra layer of formality, though it's worn with an ease that says he's used to long days on his feet.
A silver watch catches the light when he checks the time, a small proof that he likes to stay on schedule.
The outfit itself doesn't try to stand out, but it says everything it needs to: reliable, professional, in charge.
Perfect for someone trying to blend in a school setting, as he looks like any other school administrative staff member.
That face, that posture, that aura, I can't forget about it. He is a Champion I have fought before, more importantly, a Champion who was able to get the upper hand and escape me, Age Svedson, the one who introduced himself as the God of Destruction, and the Champion of Power.
My blood simmers watching his figure as he calmly walks away from the crowd of Masters gathered around the bulletin board, but even as I stare, confusion pricks me.
Something isn't right. The aura he is exuding, something about it is… wrong.
A fraction off-key, like a familiar song played just slightly out of tune.
The rhythm of presence I remember from our past clash isn't the same; something is clearly off about him, the change is simply too eerie to be something caused by a natural cause.
I narrow my eyes as I focus on him, which makes the leaving Age Svedson's figure stop and turn, as if sensing my gaze.
Our eyes meet across the crowd, and for an instant, something that seems almost recognition sparks, but maybe it is something else because with a casual motion, he turns and melts into the throng of other leaving Masters, disappearing as though he has never been there.
Suddenly, Nero's voice brushes my mind, clearly curious, [My Praetor? You seem unsettled. Who was that?]
I exhale slowly, unclenching my fists and relaxing my tense body, before I explain, naturally using Telephaty in order to not reveal any kind of information, […Someone I've fought before. Someone who took advantage of my distraction and slipped away in the past.]
Nero then presses, [Another of these so-called Champions?] To which I reply, [Yes. And yet… No. It doesn't feel like him, not anymore. Something is obviously off. And that is seriously concerning as it may be dangerous...]
In response to that, Nero says with casual certainty, [Then we cut them down, whoever they are, an imposter, a coward, whatever it is... Either way, their stage ends beneath my sword.]
I shake my head faintly before replying, [Maybe. But not now. He has slipped away.]
And when I look back at what remains of the crowd, I notice that Run Ru is gone as well, making me mutter, "Damn. Missed both of them."
Nero makes a sound between a sigh and a laugh before she says in a tone low enough that only I can hear, "So much running about. So much secrecy. Hmph. Cowards should not be allowed upon a stage. But very well, Praetor, let her scurry for now. Six days remain before the curtain rises. We shall prepare."
Hearing that, I nod slowly and agree, "Six days. That's more than enough. Time to dig. We have a lot to do before the Elimination Match."
After saying that, I follow the example of many of the other Masters and start to leave the area, heading toward the stairs that lead to the 1st floor.
The Academy feels different now; the preliminaries have been filled with confusion and desperation, students vanishing daily as they failed or were erased.
But now, the halls are alive with tension, Masters eye each other cautiously, Servants linger invisibly, ready to react to any danger, whispers fill the air like static.
Nero, striding at my side, invisible to all but me, is unimpressed by most of our competitors as she says, "Pah! Look at them, skulking like rats. Afraid to even glance too long at one another. Is this supposed to be a war? Where is the bravado? Where is the spirit?"
In response to that, I quietly murmur, "Hidden under caution, which is exactly what makes it dangerous."
Still, we comb the halls, the classrooms, I listen, I observe, but no sight of Run Ru, no sign of the off-putting Age Svedson, just rumors, whispers, fragments of nervous talk, nothing solid, which means that the Arena will hold the real answers.
As soon as I reach that conclusion, the portable terminal in my pocket beeps again.
I pull the portable terminal from my pocket, and I immediately see some words displayed on the screen.
[The primary cipher key has been generated.]
After seeing that message, I put the portable terminal back into my pocket and start to head toward the entrace of the Arena located on 1st floor, but on my way there, I'm stopped by Father Kotomine who says like a perfectily scripted scenario, something that is very likely considering the message I just recieved, "Ah, one of the Irregular Masters. I have a few things to say to you before you enter the Arena. Earlier, the computer registered that your Primary Trigger has been generated, did it not?"
In response to his question, I casually nod while lamenting, 'Here we go again... Why didn't SE.RA.PH programmed a "Skip" option... Hell, in this situation I can't even mash the buttons to speed up the texts...'
While I'm thinking that, Father Kotomine continues with his explanation, "Two Triggers must be retrieved by the end of each week, if you mean to participate in the tournament. A Trigger, or cipher key, is a key to the Coliseum and a way to cull weak Masters. All Masters are required to obtain them during the course of the preparation period. Fail to obtain the triggers in the allotted time, and it will be... Game over... as it were. You don't have to worry too much about it. It's a simple task to prove you're ready for the Elimination Battle."
After saying that, Father Kotomine continues undeterred, "The reason why there are two Triggers is that the Arena itself will be divided into two floors. And one Trigger, or cipher key, is generated per floor. So obviously, that results in two per match-up. It's the job of the Master to go and retrieve these cipher keys. For convenience, everyone refers to them as Primary Trigger and Secondary Trigger. You will be notified through your portable computer terminal when a Trigger generates."
In the end, Father Kotomine concludes, "Combat between Masters is prohibited in the Arena and on campus at all times. If, for some reason, a fight occurs, the system will shut it down within three seconds. As a penalty, the Command Seal of any Master caught fighting on campus and still insisting after the system acted will be downgraded."
After saying that, Father Kotomine leaves and watches his retreating figure. I can't help but frown while thinking, 'Three seconds... That's way too much time, especially if the disparity of power between Servants is too wide. However, the penalty itself is quite severe for most of the Masters. After all, the Command Seals are of vital importance.'
The Command Seals are three claims of absolute obedience, the crystallization of a great magic that a Master has over a Servant in the Holy Grail War system.
Unable to normally be controlled by humans, they are burdened by the "absolute condition for materialization, the authority of the Command Spell carved into them at the moment of summoning.
They are holy marks signifying a Magi's status as a Master, a system that was created by Zouken Makiri after the failure of the First Holy Grail War.
Only known to the Three Founding Families and the Supervisor, their truest purpose is to allow the winner of the Holy Grail to force the Servant to kill themselves so that the ritual to reach the Root with all seven Heroic Spirits can be completed.
Within the Moon Cell Holy Grail War, the Command Seals are considered part of the right to participate, so the loss of all three means immediate forfeiture, even if their Servant is still alive.
Masters are capable of using all three, but only two can effectively be used if they are attempting to win the war.
The shape of the seals is different for each Master; they reflect the magical characteristic of the Magus.
Shirou's take the shape of a sword, Rin's has a circle in the center to depict harmony, Ryuunosuke Uryuu's Command Seals remind him of three intertwined snakes, and my own Command Seals took the form of a stylized cup, my own Guardian Constellation, Crateris, something that I find somewhat ironic.
The seals typically appear somewhere on the arm, looking like tattoos at first sight; However, I've heard one unnamed Master complain that his are on his lower back, negatively calling it a tramp stamp.
Corresponding with the three uses, each has three parts to it, strokes that fade upon usage.
Once they are no longer a Master, they disappear completely, but traces can be seen.
Upon receiving or losing Command Spells, there is often a slight pain, and if the Master or Servant is in critical danger, it may throb to warn them.
Masters must take careful consideration of the usage of Command Seals, because they can be indispensable as both an emergency measure and a method of governing the Servant.
Depending on the relationship, they are the only thing keeping a Servant bound to them, while others will stay by their Master even without them, and those like powerful Berserkers cannot be ordered without them.
Some Servants will become more antagonistic towards their Master should they attempt to bind them, so they pay careful consideration before using them.
It is normal that a Master has general control of their Servant even outside of the Command Spells due to them being the anchor that ties them to the world with their Magical Energy.
With those who have the Independent Action skill and can act independently from the Master, the Command Spells may be the only possible way to order them.
Command Seals require no incantation, unlike normal spells, and the Master only needs to put their mind to it and order the Servant.
Imagining the shape of the Command Seals and giving the order as they release it is enough to activate it.
The proximity does not matter, allowing for it to take effect even if the Servant is miles away or through a Bounded Field advanced enough to cut off all other communication.
It can be performed unconsciously if the command is direct enough, but it will not be used if they are not serious about the Command.
The command needs to be put into words, so removing the jaw before it is fully spoken is enough to stop it.
They are three absolute orders of unconditional obedience that can either restrain or reinforce the action of a Servant.
The strength of the command depends on the Master, the directness of the order, and the amount of energy it requires.
Those that are broad and long-lasting will weaken the power of the Command Seal.
Though it will last for a long time, orders like "protect me through this" and "win this battle" will make the pain associated with the command weak enough for a Servant to disobey.
Commands with simple orders like "deliver the next blow with all your power" and "don't break that glass" are the most absolute of commands, and even the most powerful of Servants will find it hard to disobey.
Those that both the Master and Servant agree upon are most powerful, allowing them to go beyond the ability to enforce orders. Supporting and amplifying the Servant, miracles beyond their normal capabilities become possible.
While most cannot use Spatial Transportation on their own, ordering "go", having enough energy, and having the Servant's consent allows the Command Seal to overturn the normal methods of Magecraft to make it possible to reach into the unprecedented level of Magic.
Even vague orders to win that are absolutely agreed upon by both parties can have a great effect in amplifying the Servant's energy so long as they are aspired towards victory.
It can allow for a Noble Phantasm to exceed its normal maximum output and perform actions beyond its normal scope, like distorting cause and effect to surely hit the target.
For all these reasons, the Command Seals are absolutely fundamental for a Master who wishes to win the Holy Grail War, making the harsh penalty a very compelling threat.
Naturally, this threat isn't an absolute one, as I know of a couple of ways to get around or ignore this penalty.
For example, there are powerful Servants like Gilgamesh who are beyond the ability of the Moon Cell to fully control and have displayed the ability to collect Command Spells and grant them to their Master, making them Servants capable of destroying the very premise of the Holy Grail War.
In fact, I can make use of my powers and Divine Will to reform any used Command Seal with little effort, and since those options exist, it is likely that some other powerful Masters or Servants may also have their own ways to get around this penalty.
After that small interlude with Father Kotomine, Nero and I reach the 1st floor of the campus and head toward our destination, the entrance to the Arena, and once there, without wasting any more time, we step through.
The next moment, Arena opens before us like a wound, our surroundings twisting and rewriting into something familiar yet alien when we cross the boundary.
The sky turns black and green, walls and floor turn almost transparent and glow with crawling circuitry, and the air buzzes faintly, like standing inside a living circuit board.
On top of that, the area in front of us seems to expand almost infinitely in all directions, and through the transparent walls, I can already see the making of a very complicated labyrinth.
But without any doubt, the greatest change in the Arena is in the surrounding outside the transparent walls and floors that make up this labyrinth; the all-encompassing darkness is gone, and in its place, there are countless ruined buildings, floating all around the area, like the remains of a submerged city.
As soon as we find ourselves in the labyrinth-like Arena, Nero flinches slightly before she mutters, "This aura..." Then she warns me, "Exercise caution, my Praetor. Our opponent seems to be here... But their presence is somewhat... unnerving. Until we obtain information on them, let's avoid running into them. The Servant may not even be human."
Hearing that, I frown for a moment before I say, "That is a good suggestion. Our top priority at the moment is still to find the Primary Trigger as soon as possible. After all, we can only enter the Arena once a day, so we have to make sure we thoroughly explore it before exiting or being forced out because of a rushed confrontation with our opponent and her Servants, especially since the Master is... Well, insane, thus prone to unexpected actions and decisions."
Nero slowly nods and says, "Umu! It is indeed a grave mistake to start a battle unprepared. For the moment, we should simply gather as many pieces of information as possible and find the Primary Trigger."
After having reached an agreement on what to do, Nero and I start to explore the 1st Floor of the Arena, and as soon as we reach one of the larger rooms, Enemy Programs emerge almost immediately.
Most of them are faceless, jagged humanoid constructs wielding flickering weapons, but some also take some other, more varied shapes.
Seeing them, Nero laughs and exclaims, "At last! Something I may cut down without consequence!"
Then she lunges forward, her blade flashing, carving through the constructs with flamboyant ease.
Each strike leaves a trail of red light; each flourish is accompanied by her delighted cry; however, I am not watching her swordplay, I am watching the Enemy Programs.
Their movements, their attacks, their echoes, many patterns emerge from them.
These Programs aren't random; they are imitating something. Their attacks carry traces of rhythm, style, and nature belonging to a Servant; some are quite familiar, as I can easily recognize traces of Nero within them, and others are completely alien, which means that they are likely traces of Run Ru's Servant.
I narrow my eyes, studying the way one constructs lunges with long, sweeping motions, deliberate, heavy, as though mimicking someone wielding a great weapon, a polearm most likely.
Clues, fragments, not enough to form the whole picture yet, but faint enough to point at the possibility of my opponent's Servant being of the Lancer class, making Vlad III a quite strong candidate, but it is still way too soon to jump to the conclusion.
After carefully exploring and mapping the immense Arena a little bit more, we decide to call it a day and return to our Private Room.
The night, back in the Private Room, I sit at the desk while Nero is sprawled contentedly on the bed.
My mind isn't at ease, 'Run Ru may be equally pitiful and unpredictable, but she isn't enough to worry me. With the support of my limitless energy, Nero is more than powerful enough to face most of the Servants. On top of that, the Arena whispers fragments of her Servant's nature, but still not enough. What truly concerns me at the moment is Age Svedson. Something is off. Familiar yet wrong. Like a mask worn too perfectly, but not flawlessly.'
Suddenly, Nero's voice drifts lazily, "Five days, Praetor. We still have five days to prepare. Let them hide, let them whisper... In the end, the stage shall belong to us."
In response to her encouragement, I nod slowly, my eyes focus on the artificial stars beyond the window, before I smile and say, "You're right, Nero… This is our stage."