The still-formidable elderly priest, Risei Kirei, entered the room where his son, Kotomine, was contemplating a particular white mask, a package in hand.
"Still pondering the failure to summon Assassin, my son?"
"Father..." Kotomine started, "Yes. The fact that it has finally been summoned brought it back to mind."
"Well, the package you've been expecting has finally come in."
"Thank you," replied Kotomine. "The original plan was to have Assassin use Presence Concealment to scout out the enemy, but that didn't work out, and with Caster already summoned there's no way to adapt it."
"That situation is concerning," came Tokiomi's voice over the gramaphone on the table. "The fact that someone has obviously chosen to deliberately summon an actual heroic spirit as Assassin will make things rather more interesting.
"Perhaps this is serendipity," said Risei. "The notion of an Assassin, a Servant noted for both its stealth and its weakness in combat engaging in direct combat with one of the knight classes was rather ludicrous. Even if the idea is to get the other Masters to underestimate my son."
"The magi of the Clocktower tend to be quite predjudiced against both Orientals and members of the Church," Tokiomi responded. "Kotomine is seen as both, so that predjudice applies twice over in his regard."
"Caster's Master would almost certainly have been fooled," noted Kotomine. "Considering he was foolish enough to waste his Command Seals and let his Servant eliminate him."
"And risked her own elimination to do so. I'm apalled to think of the sort of provocation that would take, not to mention the stupidity of her Master to act such."
"Lord El-Melloi and his fiancee are Clocktower magi, so the deception would've matched up with their predjudices perfectly," noted Tokiomi.
"This 'Waver Velvet' is one of Lord El-Melloi's students at the Clocktower, and is known for being of the opinion that learning and experience are a viable substitute for breeding and inheritance when it comes to producing strong magi. Not a popular notion among the hidebound traditionalists at all. His participation might be seen as a trial by combat with El-Melloi."
"He's one who might have been fooled by the public split between myself and my apprentice, except for the fact that Zouken chose to recruit him to serve as proxy master for the Matou. The rotting fossil knows full well about the long alliance between the Tohsaka and the Church."
"Why do you suppose he picked him?" wondered Kotomine. "Isn't he himself older than many of these traditionalist families?"
"Zouken has long since lost any real emotional ties to his descendents. Now, with his lineage ended, they are no more. A failed experiment. Perhaps if he had accepted the land the Tohsaka chose to grant them when they were exiled, the Matou wouldn't have degenerated so quickly..."
"In any case, it's probably just a case of Zouken choosing to spite the ivory tower academics in the Clocktower by supporting a young rebel."
"The Magus-Killer, Kiritsugu Emiya, is another matter entirely. He may be a mere spellcaster, but one doesn't earn a reputation like his by being easily fooled," stated Risei. "Given his history, he's very likely the one who summoned Assassin."
"But he's the Einzbern proxy," protested Tokiomi. "After making such a fool of themselves in the last war, I can hardly see them going for such a weak class deliberately."
"We also haven't been able to track down the seventh Master," continued Risei. "At this point, for all we know, that homunculus he took as a wife is also a Master."
"In any case," said Kotomine, "instead of scouting the enemy, you are now to use hit-and-run tactics to cripple the enemy. I've chosen your Servant precisely for that."
"Yes," replied Kotomine. "Diarmuid Ua Duibhe, first warrior of the Fianna. As Lancer, he wields a pair of enchanted spears. Gae Dearg pierces and disrupts prana, while Gae Buidhe inflicts wounds which won't heal. They aren't particularly powerful, but effective if used properly."
"His nickname is Diarmuid of the Love Spot, because he was blessed such that any woman who saw his face would fall for him."
"Normally, that would've been fine. The Celts weren't concerned with marital fidelity. It was perfectly acceptable to have relationships regardless of either's marital status."
"Unfortunately, the blessing proved to be more of a curse. It was too strong, to the point of obsession. Grainne, the bride of Fionn mac Cumhaill placed a gesa on him, forcing him to run off with her."
"That can't have gone over well," mused Risei
"It didn't. After a relentless and bloody chase, Fionn decided to accept their marriage, granted Diarmuid a proper title and land, and welcomed them back as subjects. Eventually, however, it came to pass that Diarmuid was gored by a boar. Fionn had the ability to turn water into a healing potion, and there was a spring a mere two steps away. Unfortunately, Fionn clumsily spilt the water twice. The third time, Diarmuid was already dead."
"Sounds like he hadn't completely forgiven him after all."
"Mmm. According to the legend, Diarmuid never blamed her for her actions, and was loyal to his king right to the end."
"Oh? A warrior who is reasonable and intelligent enough to understand that she wasn't responsible for her own actions isn't going to expect her jilted fiance to be completely forgiving."
"Perhaps. Nevertheless, his loyalty to his liege is indisputable. He's a warrior, first and foremost. One who managed to become the best of the Fianna. It's doubtful he has any desire for the Grail save to fight and gain it for his master."
"Much like yourself, Kotomine. So the two of you should work together well."
Kotomine's face was studiously blank, though Tokiomi had no way to see it, and his father was behind him and to the side.
See other episodes by Andrew Greaves
(Posted Fri, 12 Jul 2013 16:34)
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