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Myrddin Emrys © 2025

﹒ ◠ METEMPSYCHOSIS ⊹ ﹒
— " reincarnation " !
There is no fire like passion, there is no shark like hatred, there is no snare like folly, there is no torrent like greed.
★ . Siddharta Gautama » +

೯⠀⁺ ⠀ 𖥻 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐔𝐃𝐄 ⠀ᰋ
── ★ ˙ the seed of greed, planted in the fertile soil of ambition, began to sprout, ignoring the warning signs of decay  ̟ !!

Antarctica
1st of September 2004, 20:00 PM

           The sterile hum of the Antarctic facility echoed through the stark, clinical hallways. The air was sharp and cold, chilled not just by the frozen wasteland outside, but by the precision and isolation that permeated every corner of the building. The floors gleamed under the harsh white lights, reflecting the lifeless atmosphere with an almost eerie perfection. Endless corridors stretched out, marked only by occasional sets of security doors, each one locked with heavy, arcane mechanisms. Walls were lined with blank white panels, unmarked save for the occasional faint outline of runic wards, placed strategically to reinforce the secrecy of the facility's purpose. Walking down one such corridor were two figures, the Caster and the mage of the Clocktower, their footsteps the only sound breaking the silence.

           At the front strode the mage of the Clocktower, his white tailored garb cutting a sharp figure against the sterile background. His silver-gray hair, slicked back meticulously, added an air of calculated authority to his demeanor. The sharp creases of his suit, the way his polished shoes clicked against the floor with each step---everything about him was deliberate, planned, as though he were a machine himself, operating with a singular goal in mind. His expression was cold, calculating, his eyes betraying the depths of a mind constantly in motion, weaving plots and plans with a quiet intensity. He moved with purpose, unbothered by the facility's cold as if he belonged in such an unfeeling, mechanical place.

          Behind him, his companion moved in stark contrast. The Caster-class Servant glided with an almost ethereal grace, his presence quieter, more detached. His tall, cloaked figure was shrouded in mystery, the hood of his heavy garment casting deep shadows over his face, hiding all but his amber eyes, which glowed faintly in the artificial light. Unlike the mage of the Clocktower, whose focus was honed on their shared mission, the Caster seemed almost aloof, his gaze wandering from the walls to the floors, as if the facility itself held no particular interest to him. He carried an air of timelessness---an ancient being merely passing through the present.

          For several minutes, they walked in silence, the tension between them subtle but palpable. The mage's stride was brisk, his thoughts consumed by the task ahead. He had been summoned here, to the farthest reaches of the earth, for one reason---whispers of an artifact of immense power: the Greater Grail. Hidden somewhere deep beneath Fuyuki City, far more potent than the Lesser Grail currently in use for the ongoing Holy Grail War. The thought of securing such power had driven him across continents, and now, with his companion at his side, they were on the verge of discovery.

          Finally, the mage of the Clocktower spoke, breaking the silence. His voice was low, measured, as though each word had been calculated beforehand. "The Greater Grail," he began, his tone betraying the gravity of their mission. "It is hidden somewhere beneath Fuyuki City. The rumors say it was buried long before the Lesser Grail was created, forgotten by the world until now."

          The Caster said nothing at first, but his amber eyes flickered beneath his hood. He had already known this---his vision, his Clairvoyance, had revealed the existence of the Greater Grail long before they had embarked on this mission. He had seen the paths that would converge in Fuyuki, the web of fates pulling toward the relic buried beneath the city's soil. But he did not speak of these things unless necessary. His was a knowledge that transcended the immediate, a wisdom that often left him silent when others might be compelled to act.

          The mage continued, his eyes narrowing slightly as they approached the facility's exit. "It is more powerful than anything we have encountered. The Lesser Grail, the Einzberns' homunculus all pale in comparison. If we secure the Greater Grail, we could reach the Root: Akasha itself."

           His words hung in the air like a weight, but the cloak-cladded man remained unmoved. He had heard such ambitions from magi before, each seeking the Root, each willing to sacrifice anything for a glimpse of the knowledge it contained. But the Root was not something to be taken lightly. Even the most powerful of artifacts could lead only so far, and the journey to Akasha was fraught with dangers few truly understood. For now, the Caster remained silent, his thoughts drifting as he allowed the mage to speak.

          "The Lesser Grail is in play already, tied to the homunculus Illyasviel. But the Greater Grail, it requires a vessel with far greater compatibility." The mage's voice grew quieter, more intense. "Something---someone---capable of withstanding its full power."

         At this, the Caster stirred. His eyes glinted beneath the shadow of his hood, and his voice, soft yet resonant, cut through the mage's words like a sharp wind. "There are two candidates," he said, his tone even, though the weight of his knowledge was palpable. "The Matou girl---Sakura. She possesses the potential, but her condition is unstable."

          The mage of the Clocktower halted in his tracks for a moment, turning slightly to face his companion. His brow furrowed, though his face betrayed little else. "Matou Sakura," he repeated, the name laced with a faint distaste. He knew of the Matou family's history---their fall from grace, their dark experiments with their heir. Sakura, corrupted by the Matou lineage, was a volatile prospect. Powerful, yes, but unstable, her body and mind tainted by the horrors she had endured.

         The Caster nodded slightly, though his gaze remained distant, as if he were seeing something far beyond the walls of the facility. "Her compatibility is high, but she is damaged. Using her as a vessel would be a gamble."

         The mage absorbed this information, his mind racing through calculations and risk assessments. "And the second candidate?" he asked, his voice a little quieter now, as though the question itself was dangerous.

          For the first time, the Caster hesitated. His amber eyes flicked downward, thoughtful, as though weighing how much he should reveal. After a long pause, he spoke, his voice more measured than before. "There is a child. An anomaly. Hidden within Fuyuki City."

        The mage's expression sharpened at that, curiosity mingling with caution. "A child?"

         The Caster nodded, his gaze distant once again. "She is difficult to locate. Her presence is almost ephemeral, but I have seen her in my visions. Her compatibility with the Greater Grail is nearly perfect. Far higher than even the Matou girl."

         The revelation hung heavy between them. A child---an unknown factor in a war where every move was calculated, every participant carefully chosen. The mage's mind raced, but the Caster remained calm. He had seen the child's future, glimpsed the threads of fate that wound around her, though even he could not fully comprehend the implications of her existence.

        "We need to find her," the mage of the Clocktower said, his voice hardened with determination. "Before the others catch wind of her potential."

         The Caster's eyes narrowed beneath his hood, his thoughts turning once again to the visions he had seen---the paths that converged around this child. She was a wild card in a game where every other piece had been accounted for. And while the cloak-wearing individual's nature was to observe, to allow fate to unfold as it would, he knew that the mage beside him would not leave things to chance.

       "We will," the Caster said softly, his tone final. He would find the child, though what he would do with that knowledge remained to be seen.

        As the pair reached the final door of the facility, a massive steel construct reinforced with layers of magical wards, the mage paused, turning one last time to face the Caster. His eyes gleamed with ambition, his expression set. "We cannot afford to fail."

         Without another word, they stepped through the door, leaving the cold, sterile facility behind. As they emerged, the icy air of Antarctica vanished, replaced by the crisp, autumnal chill of Fuyuki City. The night was still, the wind carrying the scent of distant pine trees, and the city stretched out before them, a sprawling, quiet expanse of rooftops and streets nestled among the hills. Above, the stars shone brightly, and the moon cast a silver glow over the landscape, its light reflecting off the tranquil surface of the river that wound its way through the heart of the city. The mage of the Clocktower gazed out over the cityscape, his sharp eyes scanning the horizon as if searching for something unseen. Somewhere beneath this unassuming city lay the Greater Grail, a relic of unimaginable power. And somewhere within its streets was the child they sought, the key to unlocking that power.

        The Caster stood beside him, silent and watchful. He, too, felt the weight of the city's secrets, the pull of the fates that would soon converge here. But for now, he remained calm, his amber eyes gleaming faintly in the moonlight.

        "We begin," the mage of the Clocktower said quietly, his voice a mere whisper against the night.

          The quiet stillness of Fuyuki City settled around them like a cloak, the only sounds being the distant rustling of leaves and the faint hum of the night's air. The mage of the Clocktower took in the scene before him with a calculating gaze, his mind already moving through potential scenarios and strategies. The Greater Grail was somewhere beneath this city, but it was not the only thing they had to worry about. Other participants in the ongoing Holy Grail War, and those with knowledge of the Greater Grail, might already be moving to secure it for themselves.

         As the Caster-class Servant stood beside him, his amber eyes still glowing faintly beneath his hood, he felt the quiet intensity of his companion's focus. Though he often appeared detached, the man was acutely aware of the tensions lurking beneath the surface. The city itself pulsed with a strange energy, the hidden power of the Lesser Grail feeding into the ongoing war, and he could sense the presence of Servants and Masters scattered across the city, their magical signatures faint but detectable.

        The mage of the Clocktower broke the silence, his voice low and controlled. "We need to locate the vessels first---before any of the other players in this war discover what we are after. The Matou girl, and the child you mentioned. Do you have any idea where to begin?"

         The Caster turned his gaze to the city, narrowing his eyes as if seeing far beyond the physical realm. His Clairvoyance was a gift, but it was not infallible. The visions he received were often fragmented, pieces of a larger puzzle that only became clear over time. He could sense the unique presence of Sakura, her aura faint but pulsing with a strange, dark energy---tainted, as he had warned the mage earlier. She was a potential vessel, but unstable. Her connection to the Greater Grail was tenuous, fraught with the corruption that had seeped into her from the Matou family's dark practices.

         And then there was the child. A mystery even to him. Her presence was ephemeral, almost like a ghost slipping through the plane of material reality, difficult to pinpoint with any certainty. He had seen her in brief flashes, her face obscured, her surroundings ever-shifting. But one thing was clear: Her compatibility with the Greater Grail was unmatched. A near-perfect vessel, but hidden away from the world. The Caster's voice was calm as he spoke, though there was a slight edge to it, betraying the complexity of what he had seen. "The Matou girl is troubled. Her potential as a vessel is high, but her connection to the Holy Grail is tainted. She resides with her family, but she is isolated, held under the control of the patriarch. As for the child," He paused, his amber eyes narrowing as if searching through the threads of fate that connected them. "She is not easy to find. Her presence is elusive, almost hidden by something---or someone. But I will find her."

         The mage of the Clocktower nodded thoughtfully, his mind already working through what the Caster had told him. The Matou girl was a risk, but perhaps a necessary one if they could not locate the child in time. He did not care about the girl's well-being---only her usefulness as a vessel. If she could withstand the power of the Greater Grail, even in her damaged state, then she would serve their purpose. But the unknown child presented an even greater opportunity. If what the Caster-class Servant said was true, then she could be the key to everything.

        "We will start with Matou Sakura," the mage said decisively, his voice taking on a more commanding tone. "She is already here, and we know where to find her. As for the child, we will continue to search. If her compatibility is as strong as you believe, then we cannot afford to overlook her. But we need to act quickly. The Fifth Holy Grail War is already underway, and the other Masters will be moving against each other. We cannot let them find out what we are really after."

        The Caster said nothing, though his gaze lingered on the city for a moment longer. He could sense the danger building beneath the surface, the currents of power that were beginning to swirl as the war escalated. Battles between Servants and Masters would soon break out in the streets, and it would not be long before the city itself became a battlefield. But his focus remained on their task. Finding the vessels was their priority, and he would ensure that they succeeded.

          Without another word, the two figures began to descend from the hill overlooking the city, their movements quiet and purposeful. The moonlight bathed them in a pale glow as they walked, casting long shadows on the ground. The mage of the Clocktower moved with a sense of urgency, his thoughts racing ahead to what needed to be done, while the Caster followed with his usual calm detachment.

         As they entered the outskirts of the city, the sounds of the night began to surround them---crickets chirping in the distance, the occasional rustle of leaves as the wind stirred the trees. Fuyuki City appeared peaceful on the surface, but beneath that tranquility lay the tension of the ongoing war. The Caster could feel the presence of other Servants, faint but unmistakable. Some were far away, hidden in the heart of the city, while others moved closer, their magical signatures flickering like distant flames.

        The mage of the Clocktower glanced at his companion, his voice low and measured. "Do you sense them? The other Servants?"

        The Caster nodded slightly. "Yes. They are scattered across the city, preparing for battle. Most are keeping their distance for now, waiting for the right moment to strike."

        The mage's lips curled into a faint smile, his mind already calculating how to use this to their advantage. "Good. Let them fight each other for the Lesser Grail. It will keep them distracted while we search for the Greater Grail and its vessel."

        As they moved deeper into the city, the streets grew narrower, the buildings closer together. The quiet suburban neighborhoods of Fuyuki gave way to older, more industrial areas, the air growing heavier with the scent of machinery and oil. The mage of the Clocktower led the way, his eyes scanning their surroundings as they approached the Matou residence. The Caster followed, his gaze distant, though his senses remained sharp, attuned to any sign of danger.

         Finally, they reached their destination---a large, decrepit mansion, its once-grand architecture now decaying with age. The iron gate at the front creaked as the mage pushed it open, and the air inside the courtyard was thick with the stench of decay. The Matou family, once a powerful and respected lineage of magi, had fallen into ruin, their home a reflection of their own corruption. The mage of the Clocktower did not flinch as he stepped inside, his expression cold and unreadable. The Caster followed silently, his amber eyes glinting faintly as they moved toward the entrance of the mansion.

        "Matou Sakura is inside," the Caster said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.

         The mage nodded. "Then let's see if she is as useful as we need her to be." The door creaked open with a low groan, and the two figures stepped inside, their presence swallowed by the shadows of the decaying mansion.

𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ 𓈈 metempsychosis