Just A Bit Of Mayhem: Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Just as she had expected, Grandfather was not happy. Summoned to her grandfather's study Illya and her recently summoned servant sat before the man as he berated her for her failings. "Years of training and countless resources down the drain and for what, to satisfy some childish whim!?"

Taking a sip from my cup to hide the smile on my face, I replied, "Whatever could you mean, Grandfather? Didn't I summon a servant three months in advance just as you planned." For a man his age, he really should avoid getting so enraged. Why, she could see the man's temple pulsing from the sheer rage he had bottled up.

"You know what you did young lady-!" The man roared out before pausing as he stopped mid rant and stared hard at the servant by her side.

Following the man's gaze, she found herself smiling openly at the look of absolute fury the young woman sported. It seems that her servant had taken offense to her grandfather's harsh language. Like a lioness protecting her young, her servant was quick to come to her aid and she made her fury known.

"You might be my master's grandfather," Her dear Atalanta grounded out as she gripped the divine bow gifted to her by Artemis herself tightly, "But you have no right to speak to her with such a tone. Have you no shame?" It warmed her heart knowing that she already considered her as one of hers.

Her grandfather, however, was not too easily intimidated. Standing up from his throne, the man held his gaze steady as he stood his ground. "She is an Einzbern," He replied, "What she feels on the matter is of no consequence to what we wish to achieve."

That was the crux of the matter wasn't it? That she strayed from the path that would have maximized the chance of her success, damn the consequences or the sweat and blood she would have to sacrifice for it.

Truly, there were few others who exemplified what it means to be a mage than her grandfather. Cold, unfeeling and utterly devoid of humanity. Still, while she had little love for the man, now was not the time for bloodshed. They had the Grail War for that.

Setting her cup aside, she clapped her hands, catching the two's attention. "Come now Grandfather, It's not that bad," She replied as she glanced over her beloved servant, "She might not be Heracles, but she is one of her companions in the legendary Argonauts."

Frowning, Atalanta asked, "You wished to summon Heracles as an Archer?"

"No," She hummed as she turned to the massive slab of rock that was to be Berserker's weapon in the original timeline, "The original plan was for us to summon him as a Berserker."

In all honesty, Berserker was Heracles' weakest form. All that power without reason, but that was what made it perfect for the Einzbern. He was without reason, thus someone that could be controlled… in theory that is.

As her servant stared at her grandfather in horror, she scolded her. "Oh hush now, I could have handled it." It was a bold face lie, but she didn't want her grandfather angrier. "Well, whatever would have been the case, that wouldn't matter would it?"

Eyes narrowed, the man asked, "What are you suggesting granddaughter?"

"I'm not saying that I'll lose," She answered before quickly holding up her hands appeasingly, "All I'm saying is that there's no use crying over spilled milk." The deed was already done. What else was he going to do? "Besides, it's not like I got myself a bad hand. Atalanta would be more than enough for me to win the war."

It's not all about having the biggest stick; It's how they'll use it. While she'd more than likely lose a head on fight with the likes of Gilgamesh or Saber, who said she'd be fighting them head on? She had plans and it wasn't like playing fair was part of a mages play book.

"We're still on track to winning this war, but if you're not satisfied with my summon," She said dismissively as she got up, "But if you're not satisfied, there's always next war?"

Tilting her head, she asked, "What's fifty more years to the hundreds you spent fruitlessly trying to recreate the miracle that my ancestor, Justeaze Lisrich von Einzben achieved?" Backed by my servant, a tense silence descended upon the room.

With his face twisting in disgust, the man spat out, "I always knew that your tainted blood marked you as a failure." Turning, he commanded, "Be gone from my sight before I change my mind and collect the resource spent on you. You already cost the Einzberns enough."

"Oh yeah of little faith grandfather," Illya laughed as she turned around, beckoning her Servant along, "Just watch me win the war from your tower." She was going to make him eat his words as she'll achieve what the Einzbern couldn't do in four wars; win the damn thing.

-x-x-x-

Winning the war, however, would have to wait as she had two more months. Right now, she had to prepare and what better way to do so than to have a coffee date with her servant? The clear winter skies were simply perfect for the occasion.

Sighing blissfully, she leaned against her chair as Sella served her and Atalanta some hot cocoa, "Thank you, Sella."

Breathing in the wonderful aroma's, she took a sip, savoring its wonderfully bitter flavors mixed with the caramel notes of the brown sugar that Leysritt used in the brew. Truly, she had the best maids around. Now while she enjoyed her drink, her servant was still quite high strung.

"That man," Atalanta growled as she furiously sipped at her drink, "You were his own flesh and blood!" She could barely hide her laughter at the sight. She reminded her of an angry kitten rather than the lioness that she saw earlier.

"While I appreciate your concern, you're simply wasting time getting angry at a terminal," She replied. Her servant, however, doesn't seem to quite get it. Smiling, she teased, "Oh? Here I thought your eyes were sharp enough to know that we're not human."

It is what makes the Einzbern so effective and ineffective at the same time. There were no more living human Einzbern, just Homonculi's still performing the last task given to them. Her grandfather was no different. He was just a machine.

"Why, I'm actually half-homunculi," She added to her servant's wide eyed surprise, "My mother was a homunculi while my father was a simple man."

Staring at her, Atalanta asked, "How…?"

Grinning from ear to ear, she answered, "Well when a mommy homunculi loves a daddy…"

While she was all too happy to explain everything in excruciating detail, her servant was quick to stop her fun. "Please forget that I asked, Mistress," Atalanta groaned as her cheeks burned.

Chuckling, she replied, "If only you call me Illya."

Smiling wryly, Atalanta sighed, "You are quite the troublesome master, Illya."

"And don't you forget that," She replied before setting her drink aside. Leaning forward, she asked, "Now then, why don't we move to something far more important, hmm?" As Atalanta nodded, Illya asked, "Once we win the war, what wish will you make from the grail?"

"Isn't this a bit too early to discuss?" Atalanta asked.

"Having a goal to strive for is half the key to winning this war," She answered easily. What use was having power when there is no motivation behind it? "If we're going to win this war, we need to know each other's goals. Only then can we work together as one."

Atalanta nodded as she answered, "My wish for the grail is simple, mistress. All that I wish for is to be saved, including you."

Illya felt a ghost of a smile graze her lips before she pouted, "You know, I'm not a child anymore right? I'm over twenty years old." Older even if she counted her memories from before added to decade she had lived as a half-homunculi.

"Are you sure about that mistress?" Atalanta asked coyly. Shaking her head, she asked, turning the question around. "How about your mistress, what do you wish for?"

Smiling, she replied, "You already gave me my wish Atalanta. You gave me freedom." For the first time in so many years, she was free. No longer did she have to live in fear. Now she had the power to do as she pleased.

Getting up from her seat she knelt before her as she promised her, "Then I shall serve you faithfully so that no one else would ever take this freedom away from you."

"I know you will," Illya replied as she reached out and patted her on the head. As the girl pouted at her, she asked, "Hey Atalanta, do you trust me?"

"Why shouldn't I?" Atalanta asked, tilting her head, "You are my mistress after all."

Biting her lips, Illya considered just dropping the matter as she glanced at the castle over at the distance, before she looked over at Sella and Leysritt. As the two nodded, Illya commanded, "I need you to drop a few birds for me."

Without hesitation, Atalanta sprang into action, firing arrows at the eyes that had been watching them along with a hare that she hadn't even noticed. "Your grandfather is an awfully nosy man. My goddess would have struck him down if she was here."

"Perhaps it was best that she isn't," Illya chuckled nervously before she sighed.

"So, what is that you wish to speak about, mistress?" Atalanta asked.

"You're going to face Gilgamesh, Artoria Pendragon, Cu Chulainn and possibly Medusa herself," She answered, making the girl choke. Well, at least both of them knew they were at the disadvantage.

As powerful as Atalanta was, they are facing some stiff competition. Cu Chulainn, Artoria Pendragon, Medusa, and most terrifying of all, Gilgamesh, the first hero. EMIYA himself would prove problematic even if he was to be summoned as an Assassin.

Scratch that, he would be terrifying if he ever gets Presence Concealment. She hasn't even factored in the wild card that was this war's Berserker. This war was not going to be an easy one.

"That's…" Atalanta grimaced, "A gift from Apollo?"

"There's more to it than that, but let's go with that for now," Illya replied before she smiled, "Now while the situation might look grim, that does not mean we are not without options." Staring at her, she asked again, "But if we're going to win this, you have to do this my way and my way will be crazy. Do you trust me?"

Atalanta hesitated for a moment, before she replied, "My fate is in your hands, mistress."

"Good, because I would need every once of your help convincing her," Illya replied. She was one of the reasons why she didn't want to summon Berserker as she, along with Atalanta and another servant, might just be the key for her to win this war before it truly kicks off.

"Who is this you speak off," Atalanta asked.

"I assume that you're good friends with a certain Medea of Colchi given your time with the Argonauts, yes?" Illya asked.