Dark Master (1)

Words: 2,702

Tic toc tic toc.

The pale moonlight shone brightly that night, the clear night sky framing the climb of the moon as it ever so slightly rose, deliberately, to its apex, surrounded by a myriad of stars. Even then, the old imperial capital continued thriving, its streets brimming with life as people filtered in and out of establishments, bars and restaurants, small vendors in their barracks and carts on the streets. Kyoto was a lively place, and that made blending in with the crowds and environment all the easier, even when I was very obviously not a native.

Tic toc tic toc.

Though I had to say, it was impressive, or perhaps deplorable, how no one ever even saw fit to report to the police about a lone teenager wandering around Kyoto in the night. I was clearly a tourist, but even then, I thought a foreigner would at least catch the curiosity of people.

That’s classic Japanese passiveness for you, I shook my head, indifference and isolationism too, I suppose. I wouldn’t complain about that though, not when it served well to my purposes.

The Temple of the Golden Pavilion was an easy location to infiltrate, being constructed in a mountainous region that had turned into a park. Dodging the guards attention was a trivial matter with some application of hypnosis and a few suggestions, and reaching the actual historical building also proved to not be a trouble.

Tic toc tic toc.

A hum escaped my lips as I looked down to my wrist. “It’s almost eleven…” I muttered after a glance at the wristwatch, a frown crossing my face. “I should start preparing the ritual.” I sighed.

Pulling a chalk stick from a pocket, I knelt down in the darkness and began to draw out a magic array. A circle of protection and a square of focus outside of the summoning circle, and a final ring drawing mana from the ley line the temple was built directly on top of.

Admittedly, taking a step back to observe the array, it certainly wasn’t my best work, which while leaving me a bit discontent also was a complete waste of effort when this would, in the end, be a place I’d be using only this instance. I only needed to summon a Servant, I was entirely willing to even let the ritual dry the three ley lines converging below this temple. They were of no interest to me, even if the act would see the Second Owner and whichever family controlled the city in the eyes of the Lords of the Clock Tower hunting me down.

Tic toc tic toc.

Midnight approached.

I took a deep breath.

“It’s time.” I muttered.

“Let silver and steel be the essence,” I started in a low voice, closing my eyes, letting my senses hone to the feeling of the ambient mana. The air stilled, anticipation building for my next words. “Let stone and the archduke of contracts be the foundation. Let black be the color I pay tribute to. Let rise a will against the wind that shall fall. Let the four cardinal gates close. Let the three-forked road from the crown reaching unto the Kingdom rotate.”

There was a thrum of power, a bright light shining so strongly it was possible to see it even with my eyes shut.

I pushed through, continuing with the chant.

“Let it be declared now; your flesh shall serve under me and my fate shall be with your sword. Submit to the beckoning of the Holy Grail. Answer, if you would submit to this will and to this truth.”

There was another wave of power and the brightness became blinding, but I didn’t falter, finishing the last lines.

“From the Seventh Heaven, attended to by three great words of power,” I declared, feeling a faint throbbing on the back of my right hand. “Come forth from the ring of restraint, protector of the holy balance!”

There’s a shift, an immediate reaction responding to the completion of the ritual in the form of a swell of mana and then a pop.

I opened my eyes and in front of me stood a figure of beauty.

Her hair was soft like the spring sunshine, locks of brushed gold that shone even under the moonlight, pulled in a tight, elaborate bun that gave her a regal look. A smile appeared on my lips when I looked at her face. She was beautiful, gorgeous even, easily the prettiest girl I had ever seen in my life. She had a heart shaped face with high cheekbones and a slight pudginess to her face that gave the girl a youthful appearance, baby fat that still filled her face. Her nose was small, her skin a pure milky white and her lips had a faint cherry tone that drew in the eyes. Not as much as her big eyes, reminiscing of large lime colored gems, looking with a curious, giddy light.

“Servant Saber Bride answers your call!” She exclaims, a wide smile opening on her face, so bright it seemed to almost emit a light of its own. “Are you my Master?”

“Saber Bride?” I can’t help myself but asking, a small amused smirk as I looked the Servant up and down, the blonde Heroic Spirit visibly preening and puffing herself up, outright posing as I looked at her, to give me a better view. Whether it was of her dress - if it could even be called a dress - or herself it was hard to say.

I wasn’t the one who was going to bring up the question.

“Umu,” Saber enthusiastically nodded, a small little smile playing on her lips. “Isn’t it obvious? Can’t you see my bridal garmet?” She asked, giving me a twirl.

Her ‘dress’ consisted only of a single white corset with a large zipper on the front, one of the only spots of black in her entire dress - together with the zippers of the thigh high, high heeled platform boots -, with a white lace embroidery on the front before the cloth changed on the sides to a thicker material that composed the skirt with an open front, giving a perfect view of her milky thighs and hips, adorned by a decorative belt made of ivory and gold.

Her gloves were of a similar white material, and they reached well above her elbows, ending on a puffy ring before only her naked shoulder and cleavage were left, breasts pressed tight in the tiny corset, as if they were about to burst and spill out of the piece.

Lastly, on her neck there was a chain and a lock used as a necklace, resting above an elaborate… neck warmer? And a green laurel crowned her head, fixing in place the white mantle with lines and details made in gold.

There was a pause in which I wet my lips and forcefully teared my ways from the sinful visage, meeting Saber eyes, a mischievous, proud look in her face. “I was… distracted by the view,” I answered, attempting a smirk which the blonde Servant matched with a larger one. “It’s quite beautiful, don’t you think?”

“Umu,” Saber nodded, preening another time, tilting her head back and raising her nose up as a pleased smile came to her face. “I designed and sewed every piece of it myself. Indeed, an absolute masterpiece, if I do say so. Umu,” she nodded another time. “It speaks highly of you to realize this fact. Truly, the man fit to be my Master is someone with superb tastes.” The blonde declared nodding to herself.

“That’s great to hear, Saber.” I smiled at her approval. “Though… I suppose we should leave this place. I have no doubt that your summoning must have alerted someone, somewhere in the city.” I remarked. “And while I do have faith in you and your skills, I don’t think we should cause needless trouble. Don’t you agree?”

“Hmm, I suppose…” she hums for a moment, tapping her chin. “Very well,” Saber nodded, placing her hand on her hips. “Then let us move and find enemy Servants to kill!” She urged, leaving me awkwardly as I rubbed the back of my head.

How would I go telling her about the fact we weren’t even in Fuyuki City where the Holy Grail War was truly happening?

“Ha ha ha ha!” It seemed, though, that I was saved from having to give such an explanation because of a girlish giggle that filled the air. Tension rose on my body, the hair at the back of my head standing on end. I swirled around, producing three pairs of colored gems the size of pebbles that I held between my fingers before I paused upon facing the newcomer. “That’s an eager girl you have right there, dontcha think, boy?”

“Master…” Saber muttered, having placed herself between the newcomer and I faster than I could react, holding a black white sword with a strange shape and bigger than she was tall in one hand.

Her intent was obvious with that single uttered word. She was waiting for my order, something that the newcomer must have noticed given the lopsided grin she offered the blonde before she laughed another time. “You wanna fight, blondie?” She asked. “I’m down for it if you are too!”

“Great!” The Heroic Spirit declared, body tensing up ready to launch an attack as her stance shifted.

Except- “Wait!” I yelled, taking a step forward and easily pulling Saber back, one arm snaking around her small waist.

“H-Hey!” Saber squeaked, squirming in my arms. “M-Master, you can’t do that!”

“She’s taunting you, Saber,” I sighed in a light tone. “There’s no need to fight.” I told the Servant who frowned, then pouted, huffing as she closed her eyes and looked away, crossing her arms.

Putting the girl down after a moment, I leveled a glare against the woman sitting lazily on top of a lamp. She had an amused smirk on her face, a mischievous light shining in her clear blue eyes.

“That wasn’t funny, Musashi.” I turn to the woman, regarding her with a flat look and for the first time I see surprise crossing her feature, but only for a moment because the next instant she schools her features before opening a wide smile.

“Well,” she starts. “Isn’t this surprising?” The… not quite ashen haired woman remarks. “I never would have thought anyone could recognize me…”

Pausing for a moment I hesitate, reluctant, debating with myself whether I should tell it to her or not, and possibly invite even more questions to myself. They’ll come eventually anyway, I told myself after working my jaw. A sigh escaped my lips, better get it out of the way now, I suppose, I decided.

Squaring up my shoulders, I met the eyes of the female version of Miyamoto Musashi.

“You could say that, you and I, we…” A pause. “We share similar circumstances…” I decided.

Musashi raised an eyebrow.

“Hoh?” She hums, kicking her feet in the air. “How… interesting!” She says, smile turning predatory before she leapt. “Then, if you know me-”

“Ah!” I raise a hand. “I don’t know you, Musashi,” I say, cutting the woman off and making her pause for a moment, throwing a questioning look my way. “I know of you, and even then not in any meaningful way.”

“Oh?” Musashi raises another carefully manicured brow. “But you know me enough to be able to recognize me on sight?” She hums inquisitively, and to that, I merely shrug in response.

“Well, you are a striking woman,” I mutter, shuffling for a moment, and I don’t even need to look at her to know her smile has widened and taken a more playful shine. “Very…” my eyes roam for a moment. “Memorable…”

Saber pouts.

“Master…” she grumbles, obviously displeased at not being the center of attention. Or maybe just jealous I was complimenting another woman instead of her.

My lips quirk. “Of course,” I turn to face the blonde. “You too, Saber. It’s hard to look at you and not become mesmerized by your beauty.” I say. “Even more so when I have you in my arms.”

“Well,” she sniffs. “That’s only natural.” Saber comments, trying to hide her giddiness.

She truly was an easy to please girl.

“Awww,” Musashi mumbles, looking in our direction. “You two are so cute~.” She says and I scoff in return.

“You shut it,” I snapped back at the woman, glaring at her for a moment. “I was thinking of offering to pay you dinner and some drinks, but I guess I’ll have to reconsider that.”

Musashi’s smile wavered. “W-Wait!” She reached out with an arm. “T-There’s no need to go that far! I-I promise I’ll stop teasing, I swear I will!”

“You better.” I grunted. “Or I won’t buy you any food.” I threatened, and surprisingly, that seemed to affect the woman who slumped down, eyes going watery as she clung to me, begging me to not let her starve.

Unexpectedly, that also seemed to get a reaction from Saber, the Servant frowning, trying to push the woman away from me while the ashen haired swordswomen only tightened her grip around my waist.

“Unhand my Master!” The blonde demanded, glaring daggers at the weeping woman who just shook her head and whined petulantly like a child.

“But I don’t wanna!“ She cried. “I’ll starve if I let him go!”

“Then go die!”

“But I don’t wanna die!”

“Then let him go, you wench!”

“But if I let him go I’ll starve to death!”

Truthfully, it would have been a funny byplay if I wasn’t the one stuck in the middle between the two women, literally caught in the arms of both of them. And if neither of them was supernaturally strong, some of that strength slipping onto their firm holds on my body. More importantly than even my bodily harm, they were being loud. Perhaps too loud, which was less than ideal.

So while Saber glared at Musashi, grinding her teeth at the woman who was clearly just provoking the smaller one, I sucked in a breath and did something that just might sign my death sentence.

“Ack-!” “Ow!” The Heroic Spirit and the displaced swordswoman both cried, caught suddenly off guard by my strike.

“You two are making too much noise.” I growled, and at least my Servant had the decency to look faintly embarrassed at the reprimand, whereas the other woman only pouted, rubbing her behind where my palm landed, looking utterly unconcerned.

“There, you hit me!” Musashi declared. “Now you have to take responsibility and buy me- ack!” She yelped another time when I smacked her once again.

“You shut it for now.” I demanded, activating my magic circuits and deliberately applying reinforcement to myself as I leaned down to grab the woman by her waist, hosting her up. “We're getting out of here.”

“Only if you-”

“I’ll buy you dinner,” I relented, shooting the woman an annoyed glare. In return, she simply smiled and I frowned, pursing my lips in response. “But only if you cooperate.” I imposed my demand.

Musashi was quick to answer. “I’ll be good!” She said. “Ack!” I smacked her another time. “What was that for?!”

“For being annoying.” I answered. Never mind the fact she could have killed me more times than I could even bother myself with counting, but since she didn’t seem really averse to it, and neither did she look like she was going to stop me, then I would absolutely take advantage of the situation.

“Hmm, I don’t know…” The ashen haired woman hummed. “I think you- ow! Hey! I was talking!”

“Shut up or I won’t buy you any food.”

“Tch!” She clicked her tongue, but relented, huffing as she crossed her arms on my shoulders, looking away. “Bastard, you’re lucky you’re cute and are buying me something, because I’m hungry right now. Otherwise I would have beaten your ass back and blue for the- Khh-!” She ground her teeth while mumbling. “Stop hitting my ass, damnit!” She demanded.

The look on Saber’s face was one overwhelming happiness and supreme smug as we departed.

-o-O-o-

Rolls made:

1- 100CP; Item: Dark Secrets - Insight 300 CP; Purchase Unsuccessful

2- 200CP; Item: Wells of Power - Ritual Knife 100 CP; Purchase Successful

-x-X-x-

A/N: For those of you who read my earlier post, the draft called Darkest Tome, this is what I decided to write after scrapping those original chapters - the fourth which I never finished - in favor of writing something different, which culminated in the birth of Dark Master!

I hope you enjoy it.