To Be a Master! (Reboot!) (IC Thread)

[alfheimwanderer]

Natural History Museum
London, United Kingdom
July 21, 2014

Octavia Leyland blinked as she noted the presence of a new visitor - one asking about the trials. She thought she'd seen his face before as having traveled with a magus who had been given a Sealing Designation, but there'd never been followup on what exactly he'd learned. After all, the magus to be sealed had died in a car accident. That he would come here though and accept the invitation...

She wondered if the Enforcers wanted to see what his skillset was in combat, in the heart of the Association's power.

"Two days from now, the Trials are set to begin. Until then, you may check into the training facility's lodgings, explore London, or examine the Library. If you desire specific recommendations, I offer a few."

---

Clock Tower, Mage Association, Library
London, United Kingdom
July 21, 2014

​"I see," the Librarian noted evenly, closing her eyes for a moment. "Well, I have not seen your faces before, and by the timing, I expect you are here for the trials. In that case...you get a one time pass from punishment. See that it does not happen again. I do not have many rules in my library, but horseplay is to be avoided, and books are to be preserved. See to it those are followed."

Her voice was hard, and her demeanor not to be trifled with - but she, the Queen of her domain, could extend mercy at times. To those who truly did not know better, assuming the crime was too heinous, she would not be cruel. Well, no more than was needed for prevention, but then a little bit of cruelty was in every magus, like it or not. It was who they were, especially when one had lived as long as she and learned so many arts that involved curses and such things.

"Now then," she asked, opening up a small pink volume. "Is there anything in particular you wish? Any reason for seeking the Grail? Or something you wish in this library?"

[mangafreak7793]

Outside Dining Facility
London, United Kingdom
July 21, 2014

The Storyteller brow quirked up at the word 'trouble' as he literally jumped up knocking his Daemon on the floor.

"...."

"Do not talk about your ass in front of a lady." He criticized his daemon before looking towards the duo. "but what's this about trouble? I did not get into trouble."

"....." Savonarola corrected him bringing his partner's expression to a frown.

"How was I supposed to know we needed papers to perform there, I didn't know that was a thing?" He replied back before turning his head to the duck's squawking. "What was that?"

"Psyduck says that your Teleportation skills have now been disabled, and you should surrender to the Enforcers if you know what is good for you, since you're not entirely human. He says..." And here was where Aoko blinked. "that you are in fact something like the Deep Ones."

He blinked at that before turning back to his daemon. "Is that a thing?"

Savonarola tried to activate his skill several times before shaking his head to which he frowned.

A frown that deepened when he heard the accusation that he was not human but a deep one a feeling that felt rather unsettling like a small eerie whisper trying to resurface from the stored away corners of his mind. "....Aoko, are you okay? You didn't accidentally eat some uncooked meat back there."

Which he immediately ignored as altitude sickness from the flight up and instead focused on his rival's crazy talk. "We were eating at a very fast paced so it might have been slipped in accidentally even your daemon is starting to talk weird."

"...." His daemon commented in turn trying to appear as calm as possible knowing his usual plan of escape is sealed.

"Yes, the soup was good I had a taste before but a challenge was a challenge so I couldn't back down." The Storyteller talked back to his Daemon trying to shrug of his know-it-all comment and again turning toward his slightly food-ill rival. "But sure we can talk, we haven't seen each other in awhile but I think we should stop by an infirmary or pharmacist to pick up some medicine."

His body suddenly jumps up a bit as his Rollerblades popped out of his shoes, his hands patting his the pockets of his clothes before pulling out a small bottle of anti-indigestion medicine and placing it in her hands. "but if it's just indigestion you can use this."

He then spun around pumping a fist in the air in cheer. "Then we can head to this convention thing I saw in the city, Don't know what it is but it's sure to be interesting! We can talk and catch up on the way to the infirmary and then to the convention, I'm sure you have some interesting tales to tell so we can swap and trade."

[Lycodrake]

Lloyd Hadings
Clock Tower, Mage Association, Library
London, United Kingdom
July 21, 2014

​"I see," the Librarian noted evenly, closing her eyes for a moment. "Well, I have not seen your faces before, and by the timing, I expect you are here for the trials. In that case...you get a one time pass from punishment. See that it does not happen again. I do not have many rules in my library, but horseplay is to be avoided, and books are to be preserved. See to it those are followed."

"Thank you, ma'am, for your kindness." Such mercy was rare, but not entirely unexpected from a librarian; patience was a virtue well learned when reading, even to those that could read books very quickly, be they fiction or non-.

"Now then," she asked, opening up a small pink volume. "Is there anything in particular you wish? Any reason for seeking the Grail? Or something you wish in this library?"

"Ah, well, as for my wish and reasons for seeking the Grail - those are kind of personal, ma'am. As for reading material, I was mainly reading through books on curse-craft and spritual evocation for 'pleasure' and looking more into the Grail Wars, what little there is to read about them. Lord El-Melloi's book is not without its biases, but it was very informative. Do you have any recommendations in any of those three subjects?"

Magi librarians were a rare sort; certainly they held secret their personal magecraft, but they were often generous in what other information they would willingly part with. "Oh, before I forget, and do you perhaps have any books on Legendary Daemon?"

[EnigmaticFellow]

Albert Welf
Heathrow Airport
London, United Kingdom
July 21, 2014

I had the chauffeur park the transportation I was provided over by the private airfield designated for the use of dignitaries from the different branches. It would make meeting with Tohsaka all that much easier.

Now, the matter concerning Tohsaka. A pity that the Edelfelts prove too useful an ally in order to do much with her. Disenfranchised assets tend to be useful tools, but the current inheritor of the Edelfelt name just offer more than her.

While idle thoughts can prove to be useful, it would ill serve me to miss her and the dignitary she is to meet with. So I leave the car.

"Greetings, Tohsaka Rin, representative of the Clock Tower. I am Sion Eltnam Atlasia, Director of Atlas Academy."

"Yes, I bid you...welcome to London. May you find what you are looking for."

Of course Tohsaka would prove herself to be professional as El-Melloi II. Do the lesser houses even bother teaching their scions the proper way of addressing their superiors? Perhaps they simply do not like being noted of their status like the minor lords of feudal times. No matter, a diplomat such as myself should be able to handle this situation.

"Ah, a pleasure to see you, Director of Atlas. I apologize for not being in a position to escort you myself since I have personal matters to attend to."

That is certainly a deviance from what Atlasia usually wears. Seeing as she is a heretic, the director has all the means to reign in the tool that Tohsaka has feelings for. Not particularly sure what Tohsaka sees in him in a romantic sense. Perhaps she was intending on using him as a paramour.

"As for you, Tohsaka," I say as I give her a letter. "Lady Welf has cordially invited you to have dinner with us."

[Caster]

Akimitsu Tsukino
Clock Tower, Mage Association, Library
London, United Kingdom
July 21, 2014

Akimitsu perked up as he heard the words from Lloyd's mouth. Not only was he forgiven, but Legendary Daemon's were being talked about too. Akimitsu stood up, trying not to startle Houndoom as he did so. "Ooh, ooh, I want to hear about Legendary Daemon's too!" Akimitsu's voice was loud, but after a stern glance from Kirlia he covered his mouth. "Sorry. I just loved hearing stories about them. My family always told me about them growing up. I've always wanted to meet Xerneas." Kirlia nodded, as he hovered nearby. "My apologies again, by the way." Kirlia bowed to Shauntal. "This is Akimitsu Tsukino, and though he has yet to say it, he is truly sorry for his antics." Akimitsu nodded, bowing as well. "I really am. But are we going to look for Legendary Daemon's? That would be really cool."

It was hard to believe that just moments ago, Akimitsu had been on the verge of tears. His heart was definitely mercurial, and it made it hard to tell just what he was going to do next. Kirlia was relieved that nothing serious had happened with the librarian. He had a distinct feeling that someone wouldn't have such a position of authority if they didn't have the ability to back it up. Magi guarded knowledge jealously, so the guardian of such knowledge should be truly frightening indeed. It was a stroke of luck that nothing had come of it.

[Wing]

Natural History Museum
London, United Kingdom
July 21, 2014

Octavia Leyland blinked as she noted the presence of a new visitor - one asking about the trials. She thought she'd seen his face before as having traveled with a magus who had been given a Sealing Designation, but there'd never been followup on what exactly he'd learned. After all, the magus to be sealed had died in a car accident. That he would come here though and accept the invitation...

She wondered if the Enforcers wanted to see what his skillset was in combat, in the heart of the Association's power.

"Two days from now, the Trials are set to begin. Until then, you may check into the training facility's lodgings, explore London, or examine the Library. If you desire specific recommendations, I offer a few."

Alfredo PakPak
Natural History Museum
London, United Kingdom
July 21, 2014

"Hmm two days huh, guess I've got some time to enjoy myself, Nice." Alf mused cheerfully before speaking to the receptionist again.

"In that case I'd like to ask for direction's to the training facility and hear what your recommendation's, oh if you don't mind your name too Miss?" Alf asked and finished with a smile.

[alfheimwanderer]

Clock Tower, Mage Association, Library
London, United Kingdom
July 21, 2014

"Cursecraft, you say?" the Librarian echoed. "Not a common topic of study in the Tower. The one major exception would be the Edelfelt family, whose use of Gandr is one of the more advanced applications here. The Sea of Estray would have more information - and the Middle East yet more. Spiritual evocation is more common, but for anything beyond the basics, I'm afraid you would need authorization from the department head."

As to the queries about legendary daemons and the Grail War.

"Understood, no doubt you have your reasons," the writer noted. Magi did keep many secrets after all, even if she was in the odd position of dispensing knowledge - well, most knowledge. "As to the Grail Wars, there is little information on anything but the Fourth and Fifth Wars. The Fourth is covered by El-Melloi II's account, with additional information by Rin Tohsaka, so-called victor of the Fifth." She smiled, just a hint. "For that War, we may even have primary sources available - Shirou Emiya, Shinji Matou, and others who participated yet live. Alas, the only account of the Fifth we have at present is from a debriefing of the Tohsaka-heiress."

She tilted her head slightly, as if going through a mental catalogue in her mind...

"As for Legendary Daemons, basic information about them is freely available," the keeper of knowledge related, gesturing down the appropriate isle. "Your trials will not involve seeking them out, though if you wish to do so, you are not restricted from the attempt. It is commonly known that the Wizard Marshal journeys with Palkia, and the Fifth Magician is bonded to Reshiram. As to the others, few know at the moment, although Xerneas was rumored to be spotted in the East, near a small city called Mifune. The tomes on them are varied - some are accounts of encounters. Some are speculative. And some...those I will not go into."

---

Heathrow Airport
London, United Kingdom
July 21, 2014

"Albert of Welf," the Director of Atlas responded, inclining her head towards the young diplomat. "An unexpected pleasure indeed. I look forward to seeing how you fare in the coming trials."

Noting his unspoken curiosity towards her appearance - something slightly different from her usual attire, the Atlasian glanced over towards Shirou, who had been the one to suggest this shift in wardrobe. The Knight of Atlas proceeded to answer the silent query of his mistress

"Given the chance of running into civilians in London, it was a practical choice, and perhaps somewhat better suited than the either the casual uniform or dress robes," Emiya Shirou noted, almost managing to keep a slight smile from his face. "It wouldn't be good if Sion were mistaken for a student, after all."

Tohsaka's face remained gravely impassive at this as she took the letter from Albert of Welf.

"I see. I thank Lady Welf for her invitation, and I shall attend," she responded formally, sighing. "Now then, shall we enter the city?"

---

Outside Dining Facility
London, United Kingdom
July 21, 2014

The Fifth Magician, also called the Magic Gunner Miss Blue, the Second Coming of Calamity, Destroyer, Dragon-spooker and many other titles, couldn't help but laugh at the Storyteller's antics. Uncooked meat? He actually thought this was all the result of eating uncooked meat? Well, it was true that raw meat could have some negative effects, but this was rather extreme.

"Before we go too much further, I should probably correct you. Psyduck is not my daemon."

And with that, she called forth her true daemon Reshiram, the legendary dragon of truths. Standing at 3.2 meters, with its pure white coat and piercing blue eyes, it was a rather intimidating beast for any - but especially to any its master deemed a threat.

"This is," she noted mischievously, before her expression turned more serious. "Now, tell me if you remember - the necromancers you dealt with gave you a tome to read - an ancient book in a tongue long dead. They asked you to translate it, but this time, when you read it, you passed out and awoke in the hospital."

"Psy psy psy!"

"...what did you tell them about the gate?"

"Psyayayay!"

"What did you tell them from the book cursed by the Outer Gods?" she asked sternly, shaking her head. "Psyduck says you're mostly human still, but that scent is not one he will forget. So, we're not going to the convention."

Reshiram proceeded to pick up the Storyteller by his collar.

"We're going to the infirmary. My good friend Ryouko should have some answers."

---

Natural History Museum
London, United Kingdom
July 21, 2014

"Octavia Leyland, receptionist of the Clock Tower," the woman answered promptly, as she handed him a map with the training facility marked, as well as a packet with general information on food and lodging. "As for recommendations, see the rest of what London has to offer. You will be in the training facility soon enough."

[Wing]

Natural History Museum
London, United Kingdom
July 21, 2014

"Octavia Leyland, receptionist of the Clock Tower," the woman answered promptly, as she handed him a map with the training facility marked, as well as a packet with general information on food and lodging. "As for recommendations, see the rest of what London has to offer. You will be in the training facility soon enough."

Alfredo PakPak
Natural History Museum
London, United Kingdom
July 21, 2014

"Make's sense I should have fun before Trial Starts. Thanks for your help Miss Leyland and see you later." Alf said to Leyland before leaving with light steps a carefree smile all the way.

[mangafreak7793]

Outside Dining Facility
London, United Kingdom
July 21, 2014

"Haha, It seems that dragons is my lucky symbol of the day...." The Storyteller said jokingly whether is was due to his nature or to cheer himself up as if to suppress something surfacing in the corners of his mind nobody was really sure as the dragon in question picked him up from his collar.

"...." Savonarola declared raising his spoons out in rebellion before his master calling him off.

"Calm down, partner everything will be alright this dragon seems a lot more cuddlier then the one we saw before." He smiled though a bit of his cheerfulness is noticeably gone and has gotten a bit paler. "I mean it's just Aozaki, worse comes to worse we might just have to end up paying for the food bill when we go out to eat later."

"...."

"Your right, that is the worse case scenario..." The Storyteller noted as he nods as he remembers the stacking powers of consumed beef products. "Best go buffet-style, Hopefully there is still one left in London that will welcome us but we'll worry about that later just come inside and we'll brainstorm."

"...." His Daemon responded as he went back into his master's soul conserving his strength and energy for a real emergency.

"Now then." He looked over to his rival and now captor and gave her a brittle smile. "Now that we are discussing dinner plans let us go to the infirmary. I mean while I think the restaurant will probably no longer serve beef here for awhile but a lot of people will be coming and going for lunch so it will be rude to talk out here out in the open and interrupt their day. I mean we are causing quite the scene and I'm ill prepared to make a performance right now."

He paused a bit as he looked up into the sky before looking back at them.

"I take it we're flying to the infirmary?"

[EnigmaticFellow]

Albert Welf
Heathrow Airport
July 21, 2014

"Albert of Welf, an unexpected pleasure indeed. I look forward to seeing how you fare in the coming trials."

"If you hold such expectations for me, then it would be improper for me to disappoint you by performing below them. I suppose that I would have to work as hard as I can then."

"Given the chance of running into civilians in London, it was a practical choice, and perhaps somewhat better suited than the either the casual uniform or dress robes. It wouldn't be good if Sion were mistaken for a student, after all."

"Thanks for the clarification. While I do not see much point in hiding ones identity, I do understand the annoyances associated with wearing different clothes from foreign commoners."

"I see. I thank Lady Welf for her invitation, and I shall attend.

"Perfect, we'll be expecting you then."

---

Enroute to Natural History Museum
July 21, 2014

And with the short meeting over, I bid them farewell while heading back to my own transport. Seeing as going around the whole of London to find El-Melloi II by myself would be too time consuming, I left the task to some wraiths I bent to my will. They will notify me once the irresponsible lord is located. Besides, my time would better be served with something else.

---

Office of Edelfelt
July 21, 2014

"Luvia, my mother normally does not invite outsiders on her own volition. That is more of something my father does from time to time. Just what exactly have you schemed with her?"

Might as well start the conversation on a bright note before asking some of the more serious questions.

[Lycodrake]

Lloyd Hadings
Clock Tower, Mage Association, Library
London, United Kingdom
July 21, 2014

Ah, the Edelfelts; the only connection his family had with the Finnish-native magi family was that of competition in the field of cursecraft, where the Edelfelt's held victory tightly in their grip. This was born not only from being much older, but also because Lloyd's family divided their attention between curses and spiritual evocation. The Sea of Estray he had not hear much of before, so perhaps details on them would help him; being knowledgeable about the different "factions" would help him in the Trials, too.

The news of what had occurred during the 5th Holy Grail War was a favorite piece of gossip among magi that were aware of it. Much of it was rumors, but his family had been most interested in what the Matou and Einzbern families' contacts were doing in Greece: no doubt searching for catalysts for Ancient Greek heroes.

"The tomes on them are varied - some are accounts of encounters. Some are speculative. And some...those I will not go into."

Noting that pursuit of Legendaries was not disallowed at all, Lloyd filed the pause in her speech away for later consideration. That there were accounts of true encounters was very inspiring, but the other tomes that seemed to worry the librarian...he had to wonder what made them so worrisome.

[Caster]

Akimitsu Tsukino and Kirlia
Clock Tower, Mage Association, Library
London, United Kingdom
July 21, 2014

Akimitsu looked down, feeling disappointed. It wasn't like he had expected to find anything special, but at the same time it sounded like he wouldn't have much chance at finding Xerneas. "He's in the East? I never saw him." Kirlia patted Akimitsu on his shoulder. "There there, I'm sure if you're good you'll manage to see him someday. I've heard that he only shows himself to the best behaved of children after all." It was a lie, but it seemed to cheer Akimitsu up. "Alright. But why can't we look at the books? Did they get damaged? Did I damage them?"

Akimitsu's mind seemed to jump to the worst case scenario, as Kirlia shook his head. "No, nothing like that I'm sure. If the books aren't allowed then there must be something else going on." Kirlia wondered himself why the books might not be allowed. It wasn't normal for books to be restricted, but it was on a very important subject. Information on the legendaries could alter the layout of the world, if improperly used. Still, it seemed hard to imagine that they would have any information that would actually be worth that secrecy. But perhaps Kirlia was simply being worried over nothing. It wouldn't be the first time after all.

[alfheimwanderer]

Competition Block Infirmary
London, United Kingdom
July 21, 2014

"How very odd," spoke the Joy-type homunculus currently running scans on the storyteller, who - along with his daemon - had been sedated and was now suspended on taut wires in an anechoic chamber from which nothing could escape against her will. "It is as this daemon indicates. The person in this chamber, if I may call him such, is no longer human. You might call him a living reality marble."

"...you mean like Nrvnqsr Chaos?" asked the Magician, frowning. Such beings usually only reached that point due to extremely heretical research, though he hadn't seemed the sort. Had she been wrong about him? She had lost track of his activities since he'd encountered the Necromancer underground, but he'd been human then. How did one just transform into a concept?

...or had he always been a concept? A concept of a 'living story', originally a human story but now warped by the reading of arcane, malevolent texts that were themselves fragments of consciousnesses far beyond human?

"Similar, but his shifting nature is due to the stories he assimilates," the homunculus answered. "There is a portion of him that is largely human and fighting to remain that way, but the infiltration of something like the---"

"Psy psy!"

"--R'lyeh text."

"...so he did read that, huh," Aoko mused, recalling the reports which had crossed her hands. "I had hoped that was not the case, but it appears I was mistaken. I'll just have to get him to correct it then. What do you think of that, Ryoko?"

The Enforcer, who was lounging in the corner watching the proceedings, simply toyed with her knife idly. Many lives had been spilt on the ground by that slim blade, many careers brought to an end, many strong magi unmanned, all in the line of duty.



"I suppose that is acceptable, Miss Blue. Since you ask, make sure he cooperates - if he runs away, I will hunt him down, and I'm busy enough as it is without the interference of those stick in the muds."

"Ah yes, you have negotiations to do with the Lady of the East."

"Ara, you know about that?"

"Well enough. We have a bargain then?"

"Good enough."

---

Clock Tower, Mage Association, Library
London, United Kingdom
July 21, 2014

The librarian regarded the two youths oddly as they visibly wondered why she had spoken as she did. It was fairly obvious that they were strangers to a magical library, where the very weight of the knowledge she guarded could bend reality itself simply by existing. Some of the books were normal enough, well-behaved to mundane and magician alike, some were more temperamental - and then some corrupted any they came across and were veritably sealed. And that was even leaving aside the Book of Unown, through which illusion could be made into reality, an artifact of the earliest days when written words had power all of their own, aside from the knowledge they contained or the secrets they referenced.

"Xerneas is an interesting case," she spoke abruptly, as if voicing an afterthought. "I believe he is awake once more, but his exact location is hard to pin down - our instruments have issues dealing with the cloud of raw prana that legendaries, like dragons, emit. Our last confirmed sighting was in the East, but there has been nothing since then. You may well see him before we do."

If this had been a query about Jirachi, she wouldn't have spoken, but Xerneas wasn't in the habit of anything as dangerous as wishgranting.

"As for the books, there are many you may have access too - I cannot say exactly what is in the restricted ones due to security reasons. Rest assured we do not fear you will damage them - but that they might damage you."

And security it was, for information about some of the legendary and the elemental orbs or means by which some could be bound, could shake the world to its very foundations. For that reason, information on the Lake Trio had been locked away, as had a few others, only to be unsealed by those with the authorization to do so.

---

Office of Edelfelt
July 21, 2014

The Finnish magus smiled a small, rather thin, smile at the intrusion of Albert Welf. She had been expecting him, after she had called in a small favor to get the Welf family to invite Tohsaka Rin to dinner in what promised to be a most interesting affair. A young, but promising Tower diplomat, she still thought he was a bit stuffy and prone to too much formality, but far better that then Tohsaka, who was like to embarrass herself - and the Tower as a whole. While Luvia had her doubts about the Clock Tower, and Emiya Shirou's relationship to the Director of Atlas Academy, she would behave with more decorum than the Tohsaka heiress.

To do otherwise would not be fitting to the elegant hyenas of the battlefield she called her kin.

"Simply putting someone in her place, my dear Welf," the blond noted archly, putting aside some of the work she had been working on. "Now, how may I help you? I assume that this is not a social call."

[Lycodrake]

Lloyd Hadings
Clock Tower, Mage Association, Library
London, United Kingdom
July 21, 2014

"As for the books, there are many you may have access too - I cannot say exactly what is in the restricted ones due to security reasons. Rest assured we do not fear you will damage them - but that they might damage you."

For some reason, the libarian's abrupt commentary reminded Lloyd of something he had been meaning to ask in regards to Legendaries. "Are there any other Legendary sightings in that area? And, from your own studies, what Legendaries would you say interact with magi the most?"

That there was even one Legendary accounted for in the region, especially the Legendary of Life - which could take offense to his taking his and his Daemon's lives into his own hands, was cause for concern. Lloyd wanted to know if there were Legendaries besides Xerneas roaming around the Fuyuki area for a singular reason: he did not know how they would respond to a Magi aiming to become a Daemon-born elemental.

[EnigmaticFellow]

Albert Welf
July 21, 2014
Office of Edelfelt

"Simply putting someone in her place, my dear Welf. Now, how may I help you? I assume that this is not a social call."

"Indeed so. The actions of a certain person you may be familiar with has ill served us."

Seeing as having something to drink is proper for discussion, I produced from my coat a bottle of Romaneé-Conti. It was originally going to be used to smooth over the meeting to be had with El-Melloi II, but his loss if he values his impertinent hobbies over the chance of having a fine expression of Pinot Noir. After pouring each of us a glass, I continue on with the matter at hand.

"Seeing as El-Melloi cannot keep to his appointments and that Tohsaka is hardly suited to help , I come to you, Edelfelt, in order to rectify the problem at hand. It appears that the director of Atlas has been using Tohsaka's former apprentice as leverage to undermine our power, and it seems that Tohsaka is ill-educated upon the finer points of being a magus. Seeing as you are in a better position than I to do so, it would serve our interests if you can properly instill into her the proper way to act with foreign dignitaries."

"But onto the matter I was to speak with El-Melloi about. Father will be initiating negotiations with the Sophia-Re's tonight. He will notify El-Melloi their decision the following day."

[Wing]

Alfredo PakPak
Streets of London
London, United Kingdom
July 21, 2014

Alfredo walk the streets of London Ice Cream in hand as he took a tour enjoying the sights. Anyone who looked at him would think of him as simply another tourist if a bit oddly dressed but nothing that really bothered people. Of course thats only on the outside while Alfredo was enjoying the sights as he had be never been in london before he was also doing what he can to check for pranal signs using his eyes as it was his visual sense that he used to sense magecraft. To Alfredo signs of magecraft were colors that coated the air and objects touched by magecraft.

​' I wonder if anything interesting is going to happen before the trials starts.' Alfredo mused in his mind as he toured London with Mundane and Magical senses completely active.

'

[mangafreak7793]

Competition Block Infirmary
London, United Kingdom
July 21, 2014

Let me tell you a bit about Storytellers. Storytellers are in odd sort though most who have met one will already agree to this sentiment. However, anyone can act a fool or tell a tall tale that itself is not odd in fact it is rather common in actuality.

A clown can act a like a fool.

A historian or wiseman can tell a tall tale.

What truly makes a Storyteller an oddity compared to that of his actions or words and presentation. The oddity is that Storytellers do not dream their own dreams. Confusing? Well it kind of is.

A Storyteller can record and recount a tale countless times, an endless amount of times to the point where they even dream of the tales they record. However, to them a tale plays out and then it ends no matter the ending it stays the same. While even in the most lucid dreams where they can change a story or an ending in their heart of hearts they know that it is not true nor will it ever will be.

Their dreams are memories.

Memories are the culmination of people's feeling but not their own.

But what if, you have a memory that you did not want to recall or could? That something that can be so horrible or so diabolical that one can forget with ease?

Especially one who never forgets.

With that in mind a Storyteller awakens from his slumber.

----

"Hmmm." The Storyteller mumbles smacking his lips together and then yawning as he tries to blinks the crust away before moving his arm around to try and rub it out.

Only to realized he is restrained and suspended in the air.

"Well...." The Storyteller paused for a moment to review his predicament. "It's not the first time waking up to being tied up."

"....." His daemon commented within his soul.

"and yes, it certainly won't be the last either, must make a holiday for it." The Storyteller nods before looking at the people before him especially the homunculus. "HELLOOOOOO NURSE!"

"....."

"I am behaving and besides don't you realize how rare it is to say that line and keep it in context?"

"....."

"Less often then you think but fine I'll stop." The Storyteller sighs before looking towards a familiar face with a smile. "Hey Aoko! Did you check for the uncook meat yet? I know it may not be a thing but one cannot be too careful right?"

"...."

"Huh? Another person?" The Storyteller replied as he turned his head to the newest person in the room. "Oh you're right Savonarola, there is a another person there! and its a MAID!"

The Storyteller grin in excitement seeing the odd sight of a maid in a hospital room however his grin turned into more of a curious look as his daemon whispers his concerns leading him frowning by the end of it.

"..." Savonarola ended his very intellectual speech to his master who can only nod in agreement to what he had told him.

"I see she doesn't look like a real maid. I mean she does but doesn't feel like one." He mumbles.

"..."

"Exactly! A counterfeit maid!" He declared before adding. "The type that is more like 'look the heel of my foot master' then the 'how may I serve you master.'"

The Storyteller paused as his sedated ailed mind slowly begins to piece together the situation as he was restrained, with a nurse, a fake maid, and Aoko who appears to be amused.

"Aozaki! Why did you take me to a BDSM Club!" He roared at the red head feeling betrayed. "Just so you now your paying!"

[alfheimwanderer]

Competition Block Courtyard
Noon, July 22, 2014

"That sounds reasonable, Director," Tohsaka Rin said deferentially, trying to make up for the impression she had made when she'd met Sion Eltnam Atlasia the other day. The purple-haired woman had suggested a demonstration of high level Daemon combat so prospective masters would know the perils - and possibilities - their road ahead would hold. And that seemed fair enough, since the Holy Grail War was no trifling matter, as she knew well. Neither was a jaunt around the Moonlit World, where they would be tested against some of the most powerful magi of all. Still, something bothered her... "But who would be putting on this demonstration."

"You shall face me in battle, magus," the Director of Atlas Academy noted impassively, as Tohsaka Rin blanched.

"What."

"Perhaps you did not hear me the first time, magus?"

"I did," Rin admitted, trying her best to suppress a shudder at the thought of facing someone of this level of power - an immortal who possessed the legendary Philosopher's Stone and power beyond any but Magicians or perhaps Ancestors. "I...as you wish."

---

And so they prepared to face off against one another, Tohsaka against the Director of Atlas herself, with the entire audience of prospective masters in attendance.

"This will be a battle under the terms of the Preliminaries - a double bout," the steel voice of Aozaki Aoko intoned, with the redhead clearly amused by the scene. "The battle shall continue until one party either yields or is incapacitated. Do you accept these terms?"

"Indeed. Metagross, come forth!" the Director of Atlas voiced, with the 1.6 meter tall creature of silver and gold materializing before her, floating in the air, with its red eyes glaring at the Asian woman, and claws of razor-edged metal gleaming in the sun.

Seeing the Atlasia's daemon, Rin felt somewhat less confident, as she summoned her own daemon, a Haxorus, a fierce dragon whose ability allowed her to ignore the abilities of other daemons. She would have to end this in one move - it was the only chance she'd get.

"I accept," Tohsaka said, not taking her eyes off her enemy.

"Begin!"

"Earthquake!" Rin cried out, with the Haxorus leaping into the air and slamming down upon the ground, shockwaves crashing through the arena as it landed -- but as soon as it landed, the fight was over, with the metallic daemon of the Atlasia slamming into it with the speed of a meteor, tearing through the dragon's visage and moving to loom over her.

Rin tensed, waiting, just waiting for those claws to tear through her as well, with mere flesh posing no challenge to metal, but instead she heard a voice - a cold query from one who seemingly didn't care if she died.

"No...that..."

"Do you yield, magus?"

"...yes," the Tohsaka heiress whispered, collapsing to her knees as the Metagross vanished as well, leaving the stage empty. "I never had a chance, did I...?"

"Such was as I calculated, yes."

But there was no time for anything more, as the preliminaries would soon begin - by random lot, challengers would be paired off with one another for the battles to come.

[EnigmaticFellow]

Albert Welf
July 22, 2014

Was having these two parties fight it out in a duel really necessary, El-Melloi? No matter, at least nothing bad came out of it. Not as if I can fault him too much on that. Increasing Tohsaka's worldview is useful for our aims. Who knows? We might even be able to introduce her to those gems one day.

Not forgetting my manners, I nod towards the director of Atlas in acknowledgement of her performance, or at least as much of a performance as one can do against a severely inferior opponent.

[mangafreak7793]

Competition Block Courtyard
Noon, July 22, 2014

"Well that was certainly a thing....." I muttered at the one sidedness of the match blowing away any sense of anxiety I had with that fake maid and being tagged and replaced with a bigger sense of worry by the winner.

"...." Savonarola stated as he looked with me at the match.

"Yeah, My benefactor wasn't kidding when she said to stay away from her." I muttered as I remember the name of the person my benefactor was very wary of. "Sion Eltnam Atlasia"

While everyone looked on or shock, awe or amazment, i simply try to join in try to blend into the crowd in order to not have the Director notice me, if she knew me,

"....." My Daemon mentioned with a sigh.

"Shut up, my outfit does not stand out, stripping will only make me more noticeable!"