Just A Bit of Mayhem: Chapter 3

Chapter 3

As much as she wanted to enjoy the sights and scenery back home, she still had business to attend to. Fuyuki awaits and if she was going to win this war, she had to be there before the rest of the competitors arrived. How else was she going to rig the war to her favor?

Fighting back a yawn, she mumbled, "So sleepy." Clinging to Atlanta for support, she stumbled along. Only the caffeine in her blood and the warmth of the morning sun against her skin kept her going as they made their way across downtown Fuyuki.

Feeling her servant's warm hand against her head, Atlanta reminded her, "We just landed a few hours ago. Perhaps it would have been better if we had just taken the day off and helped Sella and Leysritt move in the Castle."

She was surprised that her old man even allowed her two maids to follow her after all that she had done, but it was a small mercy he did. Having to clean up the dusty old castle after years of disuse with just herself and servant would have been a pain. With the two holding down the fort, it allowed her to pursue other things such as this walk in downtown Fuyuki.

"I'll just nap later," Rubbing her eyes, she replied, "For now, I still have some things to deal with." The weather was far too nice to pass up exploring the city. Days like this were meant to be enjoyed, not cooped up inside especially when she had her precious Archer with her. Getting her to wear something casual was already hard enough after she had her dress up as a maid!

Leaning against her servant's hand and enjoying the sensation of her delicate fingers running against her hands, she let out a satisfied sigh. For a seasoned huntress, her hands felt so soft and comforting. "If you say so," Her servant sighed before she stopped.

"Archer?" She whispered in confusion before her eyes landed atop the lonely church atop the hill, "Oh, we're here." While Fuyuki was nice around this time of year, she wasn't just out to explore. She was also here to meet the Overseer as well.

"Mistress Ilya," Atalanta asked, her delicate brow furrowed as she glared at the Church, "Are you sure this is wise?" After all, the man inhabiting the building was no ordinary priest.

Illya frowned as the voice at the back of her mind told her to flee, to turn away and deal with this later, but she refused to turn away. "As much as I wish to avoid the wicked priest, we still have to introduce ourselves," She sighed, "He is the overseer of the war."

There was simply no way to avoid them. The Grail War might be a free for all, but it still had rules and formalities to follow and meeting the overseer was one of them. She could just skip this entirely admittedly as a letter would do, but not doing this in person signaled overtly how she did not trust the man.

She didn't want to tip the man off just yet, not when a certain golden servant is still unaccounted for. Best to make them believe that she was still in the dark. Smiling, she turned to her servant, "Besides, I have you don't I?" Her words were quickly followed by a squick as a familiar squirmed their way up her jacket, "And you of course!"

Pulling out her pet rat, she hugged them gently, laughing at the feeling of their tongue lapping against her skin. "Oh you aren't just precious," She giggled as she tickled her pet, "Yes you are! Yes you are.~" She was a purchase at a whim while she was preparing back in Germany, but she was proving to be calming throughout all this.

"Now now Mistress, best to not tease Weiss too much," Atalanta reminded her with an amused smile, "She had just eaten after all."

"Of course," Illya nodded, finally letting her pet be. Slipping her back inside her front pocket, she walked ahead, making her towards their destination. "Now come, let's get this over with."

Approaching the church, Illya would be lying if she didn't feel nervous. While it was supposed to be neutral ground, a sanctuary, it was still that man's home base. Of all the possible participants of the war, he was one she was most nervous of all. A veteran of the previous war and bathed in the mud of the corrupted grail, he was someone to be wary off.

Stopping before the wooden door, she felt Atalanta's hands on her shoulder. "Master, I feel a presence inside the Church…" She hissed, her hackles as she gritted out, "Powerful."

Swallowing, she nodded as she steeled herself. Opening the church's door, she found herself in a well lit and well kept church devoid of people save for one man. There, near the front pews sat a golden haired youth.

Slowly, they turned their heads in their direction and Illya found herself freezing. Like a deer caught in the gaze of a lion, she felt those gleaming red eyes bore a hole into her as he grimaced. "Must you sully my presence with vermin?" The man spat out.

Taking a step forward, Atalanta put herself between her and the man. Feeling their hateful gaze, she stood there frozen, unsure at what to do. With her heart hammering away inside her chest, threatening to leap out her chest, she thought she was dead until she realized he wasn't glaring at her, or even to Atalanta, but at her pocket where her dearest companion peeked out.

"Miss Weiss is not a vermin," She grounded out, her hackles raised. How dare he? How dare he! Pulling out her pet, she showed her off. Her long plump form dangling in her arm as she extolled to him of her virtues. "She is my adorable little princess and my dearest companion. How dare you insult her!" She didn't care if he was the king of heroes, but nobody insults her pet.

Silence stretched between them as the man stared at her in disbelief, at the gal she had for insulting him. Yes, she dared, because fuck him that's why. The intended insult, however, would not find its mark as the man started laughing.

"You're certainly a spirited one, aren't you?" The man noted as he wiped a stray tear from his eyes, "Good, you'd need all of it for what's to come, young lady." The golden asshole would ignore her annoyed glare as he stood up and asked, "You have come to meet the priest, have you not?"

"We do," Atalanta replied as she gave Illya a scolding side eye. Illya in turn pouted as she looked away. Yes, she knew there was time for valor, but still!

Unfortunately for her, the man would choose to retreat as he walked away. "Wait here," He instructed before he disappeared to the back of the church. It would take a good long minute before the man they had come to meet finally came out to greet them.

"My apologies for keeping you waiting," The tall and imposing priest chuckled as his empty eyes landed on Illya. "I wasn't expecting guests so soon and certainly not the first representatives of the war at that," Smiling, he asked, "But isn't this a bit too early? Surely the burden of supporting a being of legend must be… intense."

Feeling his cold calculating gaze at her and how he regarded her with such intense curiosity, she shuddered. She knew that there was something wrong with this man, but seeing it first hand was truly an experience. It felt like he regarded her little more than a slab of meat or a doll, than a living being. She couldn't let her guard down, not even for a second.

"If you wish, I could relieve you of this burden, even if it's temporary." The man offered, spreading his arms as if he was giving her salvation, "While you represent the Einzbern, you, my dear child, always have a choice in this matter."

"The church always welcomes those in need," He added, "And not even the Einzbern could touch you once under its aegis."

Swallowing, she considered his words for a moment. She wasn't sure if he was merely trying to get her to lower her guard or not, but there was something genuine about his words. There was no hint of deceit or malice in his words and it terrified her. Was he really offering her a way out, or was he going to strike at her weakest. She… she could never trust him.

Smiling, she replied "Thank you, father, for the concern, but I assure you that I can handle this well enough on my own." Even if he was genuine, she was already fated to die. This war was her only salvation. She needed to participate else another vessel would be chosen. She would not let Sakura suffer any more suffering if she could take it.

"And so it is," The man replied as he nodded. "As the representative of one of the scions that helped establish this great ritual, I assume there is no need for me to explain all the rules," He asked.

"Like the back of my hand," She answered without missing a beat, "You can say that I was made for this."

"Such fire," The man replied as the first true emotions lit up beneath those eyes; He was intrigued. Smiling ever so slightly wider, he noted, "Despite looking so much like your mother, you remind me so much of your father."

"And like my father, I've come to do what I must," She replied as she glared up at him, "For the good of all, the wish of the grail must be granted to those most worthy of it." No being of hatred, be they god or tortured man, should ever hold such power. She will make sure that such a path would never come to pass.

"Then rejoice Heir to Heaven's Feel, for your wish will finally be granted," The man replied as she turned around. She could no longer tolerate his presence. She needed to be as far away as this man.

"Come Archer, we have much to prepare for," She called as she hurried along, leaving this accursed place, "Let's leave the Overseer to his duties."