บท 63: Apocrypha
"Zelretch." I say as I open my eyes and look towards the appearing magician. "It has been a few months since we have seen each other. How can I help you?"
"You have not been seen in the Clocktower for a year." he answers as he approaches my sitting form. "Questions are being asked, and rumors are flying."
"Has it honestly been that long?" I ask as I uncross my legs and stand up. "It honestly has felt much shorter."
We are currently situated in the castle's training courtyard. It is currently night and I have been sitting here meditating in an attempt to utilize my powers of prophecy at will. Unfortunately success has been quite limited.
"Indeed, it has been that long." he answers. "Many are wondering whether you will be present during the annual gathering this year. While others speculate whether or not you died during a Dead Apostle hunt."
"As you can see, I am very much alive." I tell him. "Besides, one of the families allied to me should have informed you, and the Association, that I am very much alive."
"Obviously they didn't." he answers. "And while I knew that you were alive, I did not know the reason for your absence."
"Hmmm." I humm back in thought. "I wonder why they did not inform the Association."
"Because I instructed them to refrain from doing so." answers Scathach's voice from the entrance of the courtyard as she interrupts Zelretch before he can speak.
Turning towards her voice, I see her walking towards us as Morgan trails not far behind. Both are currently wearing their rune suits in the form of exercise clothes.
"How come?" I ask her as they reach us.
"You were close to breakthrough." she answers. "Any interruption may have further delayed your success. Besides, the Clocktower can function without its Vice-Director for a few months."
"So, how much longer do you estimate until you will be able to accomplish it?" asks Morgan.
"It?" asks Zelretch. "I have not seen any of you in months, perhaps one of you would love to fill me in?"
"Clairvoyance." I answer him. "In my dimension, children, or descendants, of Apollo sometimes receive the gift of prophecy, or limited clairvoyance. I have been attempting to access this power."
"You said sometimes,-" he answers. "-what makes you so sure that you possess it?"
"During a spar with Scathach, I witnessed all of her possible attacks before her muscles even tensed. I also caught flashes of what Morgan was doing at the time, on the complete opposite side of the castle." I inform him.
"Hmmm,-" he answers as he rubs his beard. "-that does indeed sound similar to clairvoyance. I would say that what you saw was due to your prophetic dreams as a demigod, however you have not had one ever since you've arrived in this dimension, and you were not sleeping."
"Indeed,-" as I rub my forehead in thought. "-quite perplexing. That is why I have been attempting to replicate the feat ever since."
"Unfortunately, you clearly have had varied successes." says Morgan.
"The truth of the matter is that I have been less than successful." I reply. "So far I have only been able to catch glimpses of a few seconds in the future and only when in the midst of battle."
"I see." answers Zelretch. "Would this training also have anything to do with your frequent hunts of Dead Apostles?"
"No. I hunt Dead Apostles because it seems to somewhat appease Alaya." I tell him.
"Alaya?" he asks.
"We never did tell you what has occurred." says Scathach.
Zelretch simply arches an eyebrow in question as he waits for one of us to elaborate.
"Come." I say as I turn to face the castle walk towards the inside, Scathach, Morgan, and Zelretch following not far behind. "As you know, Camelot fell when Vortigern allied himself with Tiberius and proceeded to launch a two pronged attack. What you did not know is that Alaya had a hand in that."
"What?" questions Zelretch.
"As you know,-" begins Morgan as she explains. "Camelot was an attempt by my sister at creating Utopia. However, Camelot cannot exist. In the end, it is a utopia, something that is meant to be, but paradoxically something that cannot exist because of its nature. It is a "dream", the "dream" of Britain, a utopian city without flaws, but a dream cannot be made real."
"The ideal city never truly existed." says Zelrecth in understanding.
"No, it did not." replies Morgan. "Artoria tried to make it that way. As such Camelot, as it existed, was a really nice, fabulous city that tried to be close to the utopia and aimed to be it thanks to Artoria and Kay. However, there is a flaw in the logic, a very very simple one, yet a flaw all the same."
"A flaw in the "dream" that is known as humanity." explains Scathach. "A city can be perfect, but humans are not. Therefore, the utopian city can only exist as long as it does not. Empty, untouched, and unreachable. What Arthuria and Kay attempted to do was very close to the city's name. However, Kay was the first that realised the city cannot exist, and for him it was a good thing. For as long as it does not exist, it means you can aim to create it."
"I see." says Zelretch as we reach one of the castle's lounges and we all sit on a couch. "However, what does any of this have to do with Alaya."
"The creation of such a utopia would have resulted in the formation of a Lostbelt. Whether it would have negatively impacted humanity, no one knows for certain. However, that is not something that an entity like Alaya would leave to chance." I explain.
"As such, when Vortigern attacked Camelot,-" says Morgan. "-he received no hindrances from Alaya due to being firmly against humanity."
"Meanwhile, Alaya had no qualms with slightly influencing my mind so that I may act more complacent than I already was." I explain.
"Alaya, mind controlled you?" he asks incredulously. "That is no way in line with her subtle tendencies."
"It was not exactly mind control." I tell him. "You see, before the battle I had already grown complacent, yet not so far gone that I would speak during a major battle such as the one against Vortigern. Alaya simply stimulated it until Mordred's death, at which point it seemed to believe that with Mordred's death and Artoria fatally wounded, Camelot had nothing to help it recover."
"I see. However that still does not explain why you are attempting to appease it." says Zelretch.
"I am a demi-god, Zelretch." I tell him. "A remnant of the Age of Gods. I should not exist, and even if I do exist I should be in conflict with humanity. Yet here I am, interacting with humans and living as part of them with no conflict."
"Right. I have a tendency to forget that you are in fact a demi-god." he says. "That is why you have made it a habit of eliminating Dead Apostles, to show that you are firmly on humanity's side."
"Yes." I answer with a nod. "As for Gaia, as long as I do not make myself out to be a threat to the planet, then she will remain indifferent to my presence."
"Yes. I honestly think that Gaia is far more lenient than Alaya. Although in reality neither of them can truly be considered sentient or living. Alth-" he says only to be interrupted before he finishes.
"Zelretch,-" interrupts Scathach. "-tell us the true purpose of your visit and stop stalling."
"Of course you would notice." he mutters with a chuckle. "When I helped the Matou, Tohsaka, and Einzbern family create The Holy Grail Wars, you warned me of the potential flaws that I may not be able to see. For the most part I heeded your advice, however one place where I have failed to do so is in making sure that no one would be able to steal the Greater Grail from its cave in Fuyuki."
"And due to your incompetence, someone stole it." claims Morgan with narrowed eyes.
"Calm yourself." orders Scathach. "Even if it is stolen, the thief will not be able to utilize it without a Grail War occurring.��
"I know that you wished to use it for yourselves, that is why I personally came here to tell you about this development and to apologize."
"It's fine." I tell him. "It is like Scathach said, they cannot utilize it without a Grail War happening. When it does we will personally go to obtain it."
Besides I know who has it and where he is. What perplexes me however, is that other than the theft of the Greater Grail everything points to this being a timeline that will lead to Fate/Zero. Even though I did not have a hand in the creation in the Grail War, Zelretch still came to me for advice. As such I know that while Ruler can still be summoned, it is by the Grail itself once a failsafe has been activated, and Avenger cannot be summoned at all because I made it explicitly clear to Zelretch that it would only lead to disaster.
Regardless of what timeline it is, I should be able to defeat every servant single handedly. If one also adds Scathach and Morgan to the equation then it becomes overkill. The only servants that honestly pose any kind of threat to me are the likes of Karna, Arjuna, and Gilgamesh, even then I believe that I am able to defeat them before they can truly use their full power.
"What happened to the founding families?" I ask Zelretch.
"From what I was able to gather, they are planning on biding their time and preparing for when the Grail War begins anew." he explains.
Interesting. In the canon timeline of Apocrypha they all gave up. The Eiznbern and Tohsaka family looked for alternate methods to achieve their goals while Zouken fought fiercely against Darnic Prestone Yggdmillennia during the Third Holy Grail War. However, he became practically crippled due to the shock of the Greater Grail being stolen, causing the Matou family to become extinct due to his child not birthing Byakuya and Karyia.
"Is there anything else that you wish to inform us?" asks Morgan.
"Well,-" says Zelretch hesitantly. "- Vice-Director Barthomeloi is wondering when he will return."
I honestly doubt that she put it in such a respectful way, and unfortunately for her I could not care less if she ordered me to return. Besides, although we both hold the position of Vice-Director, it is a known fact that I hold far more power in both the Clocktower and the Mage's Association than her family ever will. Before I can reply however, Morgan does so for me.
"Tell that wench that it is none of her business." scathingly replies Morgan.
Honestly that is the tamest answer I expected her to give. She and the current head of the Barthomeloi family met during an annual banquet at the Clocktower. Unfortunately the Barthomeloi family have a history of arrogance and looking down on anyone that is not the user of the First Magic. Naturally this situation was no different and the head of the Barthomeloi family had to antagonise her, ever since then they have hated each other.
"Right." says Zelretch sarcastically as he stands up. "I am not returning that message. The only reason I even relayed hers is because I was already here. Besides I have better things to do than play messenger."
Having relayed his message, Zelretch leaves in a swirl of multicolor.
"It seems that we might be facing a Great Holy Grail War." states Scathach as she stands from the couch.
"It seems so." I reply. "Far more interesting than the normal seven on seven Grail War."
"It does not matter." answers Morgan. "Mordred will be revived even if I must wipe the thief's family from the face of the earth."
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Servant_Ambrosius
Servant_Ambrosius This chapter honestly feels so mediocre to me, what do you guys think?
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