About the same time, A mountain mansion in China, North of Beijing
Heping sat kneeling on the floor next to her brother. Her parents had called a family meeting, and she could hear them having a heated discussion in the other room.
Clearly, there was much to discuss.
Even though her parents were in the other room, they may as well have been right in front of her with how anxious she felt. It seemed that no matter how long she was with them, she would never feel comfortable in their home. She never knew what to do or how to please them, and their cold and almost mechanical demeanor only made things worse. No matter what she did she only ever received cold admonishment or empty looks in return. She assumed this "meeting" was likely something to do with her and how she wasn't measuring up to their expectations. It was a long time coming as far as she was concerned.
Her older brother was hardly any better than her parents. Shenghuo was truly their child, but, at the same time, he was also her salvation. Whenever she didn't know what to do, she would just copy him, and whenever she didn't understand her parents, which was very common, she would ask him what they meant. Even now she was just copying his position: kneeling with head bowed and hands rested on knees, palms down. And so, even though she was smart enough to know the feeling wasn't mutual, she had come to appreciate his presence. He thought of her as a nuisance, yes, but he also tolerated her and helped her adapt to her new life, though it wasn't all too different from before.
Mages were all the same.
She had been born in the midst of her country's "One-Child Policy", and, being the second child, was bound to be separated from her family or otherwise disposed of. However, the Chinese government had been expanding its influence into circles of Magecraft; how they uncovered the existence of mages was a mystery to her. Regardless, in exchange for funds and materials, mages were contracted to work for the government, but there were other ways to contribute as well, namely, The Army of Spring and Autumn. This army was composed of children, including many victims of the One-Child Policy, with strong magical circuits. They were taught martial arts, specifically combat techniques utilizing their circuits to empower themselves: an army of superhumans under the government's control.
Her parents, specifically her mother, who herself was a government-employed mage, gave her to this army for reasons that she'll likely never have the heart to understand, and that was how she was raised. Her life had been one of routine: wake up, train, study, eat, sleep, repeat. She had been among the top of her class, but was still mostly unappreciated by her superiors as she could never adapt to life as a number, a nameless soldier. Still, she wasn't rebellious, she did as she was told and never complained; her "insubordination" was never worse than the odd book hidden underneath her pillow, or talking with her friends past curfew. Neither did she ever hold animosity towards her officers or doubt her cause. But that didn't mean she didn't want more, either.
She recalled how intrigued she was when she studied the history of her country, especially the art and sciences her country was known for. She loved the arts, the pictures and the expression, and these passions translated into her Martial training, since it was the only art-form she was allowed to express freely. Even with this in mind, her supervisors' main complaints were that she wasn't taking her training seriously, citing her resistance to sparring and more... graphic exercises. They had a point, she wasn't cut out to be a soldier, and so she wasn't surprised when they told her that she wasn't needed in the army anymore- but she was very surprised, even elated, to learn that she was getting sent home to her parents, the parents that she'd never met.
Her heart still hurt when she remembered her anticipation, the life she thought she'd get. Instead, she continued a life of suffocating routine, just a different routine than she was used to, and a lifestyle she was unfamiliar with. She supposed she had yet to entirely cope with her disappointment, and assumed that the same was true of her parents...
-It was here that her parents walked in, sitting on a slightly raised section facing their children. Her heart seized and she instinctively grabbed the hems of her formal dress, a yellow cheongsam, her eyes staring intensely into her lap. She felt Shenghuo turn his head slightly towards her, but he said nothing.
Her father wore a western suit and tie that was just slightly too big for his lanky and decrepit silhouette. He was scarred all over, especially his hands, from his extensive history with Pyromancy, and no longer had any obvious hair on his body. This made him look far older than he was- he could've easily passed for 70. Her mother wore a red dress not unlike her daughter's, and her black hair was tied in a tight bun. Her forehead appeared rather large because of how this bun had pulled her hairline slowly back over the years. Even so, she always found her mother rather beautiful: her youthful face radiated peace and tranquility, though her cruel words so often betrayed this visage.
She was always intimidated by her parents, and so she was naturally even more self-conscious when they were together, but there was something else too: the eerie contrast between them. Her mother was only a few years younger, and yet she appeared so youthful in comparison, and while her face radiated with what Heping surely hoped was compassion, his face spoke only of the horror and tragedy of life, and that was only the skin-deep differences. Not only did they look different, but they thought differently, and they had different expectations of their children. Her father was a true Mage, trained at the Clocktower, while her mother was a pure-bred national, loyal to her country first-and-foremost. They didn't even argue, either: whenever one said something the other disagreed with, they would just push past it, not even acknowledging the contradiction, as if challenging their children to make a choice about which parent they would follow. Sometimes she felt like the only thing they agreed on was their disappointment in her. She didn't know how Shenghuo had managed to last under these circumstances.
Regardless, she didn't dare raise her head.
Her mother spoke first, her doll-like face locked in the same soft smile it perpetually held, "I am so happy you both joined us in such timely fashion, your father and I have some very exciting news."
So she wasn't in trouble?
Her mother paused here, as if waiting for her father to say something, but he just sat there with a rather sour expression. Whatever it was, it wasn't something he was happy about. That meant it was probably something like a government contract.
While her mother would wane romantically about serving her country, her father only complained about the interference. In this way, she often found herself empathizing with her father, finding connection in their shared desire to live a life of their own, even if he didn't seem to understand the hypocrisy of doing more-or-less the same to his daughter. She just wasn't a person to them. Maybe they didn't see anyone as "people".
Mages were all the same.
Her mother cleared her throat, "The Administration has detected a strange anomaly in Greece, and wanted to send mages to investigate. However, they do not have the resources to spare, and so I convinced them to allow the two of you to act of my behalf."
'What?'
Heping felt herself start to hyperventilate. She wasn't cut out for this. Her magecraft was less than mediocre; it was abysmal, and not to a lack of trying. She hated the idea of being a soldier; a cushy job practicing magic was so much more appealing, but the martial arts she trained in was really the only thing she was good at.
Was this a test? A way to get rid of her?
She continued, "You see, myself and others have been heading research into an Eastern ritual called the Holy Grail War. It has become rather popular as of late, and it has been my job to analyze and collect data in order to reproduce the ritual in its most ideal form. This signature in particular, though, is rather peculiar, and demands more attention and care than the others. The data it will inevitably produce is invaluable, and so you two will participate on the Administration's behalf."
'A war?'
It was here that her father stepped in, "Erm, the ritual isn't a simple one. Calling it 'research' is -uh- euphemism, really. What your mother is glossing over is the -uh- competitive nature of it. Seven mages summon seven familiars which then battle for supremacy, and the winner gets an ultimate magic to grant whatever they desire. The only reason you'd need to -well- report, or anything, is if something is wrong with the structure. Otherwise, your only goal is to win and hand over that 'wish' to the Administration."
As he spoke, his mouth was constantly pursing and shifting as if to wash out a bad taste.
Her mother picked up where he left off, "Right, your goal is to collect as much data as you can, and so we at the Administration have arranged some powerful familiars for you to use."
It was here that Heping's intimidation finally gave way to her shock, and she was able to look at her parents. She noticed that each held something in their laps; a small wooden container no larger than a shoebox. She then saw that Shenghuo had already raised his head, but she had been so distracted that she hadn't noticed. She felt her face flush with embarrassment and immediately regretted ever being born.
Her mother raised her box in reverence, like it was some kind of treasure, while her father's lied simply and casually in his lap.
She continued, "Inside each box is the relic you will use to call your familiar, called a 'Servant', as well as detailed instructions as to the summon procedures and the known details of the ritual."
Her mother held her box forward towards Heping, gesturing for her to take it. Her father practically dangled it in front of Shenghuo, as if it were a used handkerchief. The siblings both took the boxes gingerly and placed their respective boxes in their laps.
Her father waved his hand, "You -uh- can open them."
Shenghuo removed the lid of his box and peered inside, and Heping did the same. Inside hers was a piece of yellowed paper with barely visible ancient script and a small pamphlet- likely the instructions her mother hand mentioned. She looked over to her brother who was now holding a small, dusty glass vial.
Her mother nodded to each of them in turn, "Heping, your catalyst is believed to be a piece of one of the sutras carried by Sanzang in his Journey to the West. Shenghuo, your vial is believed to have once held a dose of the elixir of immortality."
Here, Shenghuo spoke up for the first time, "I'm sorry, Mother, but what is it specifically that warrants the use of such priceless artifacts?"
It was always strange to see them interact in this way. Shenghuo was large and muscular compared to his family with an aged, gravelly voice- though it may as well have been butter compared to their father- so seeing him talk to his parents like this was always somewhat awkward. Between his appearance and natural charisma, anyone would assume that he was the leader rather than the follower.
Regardless, it was a good question, one that their father answered, "Because priceless relics make powerful Servants, and the Administration is desperate to obtain whatever lies at the end of this war. I -erm- don't know what that would be, and neither do they, really, but they are -uh- putting many eggs in this particular basket. Besides, if you -uh- take care, then your relic should be able to be reused later, so -erm- try to get it back to us, please."
"I'll do my best."
Shenghuo held the vial and looked it over for another greedy moment before catching himself and placing the vial back in the box; closing it. Heping closed her box in turn.
Her mother spoke, "Your flights leave tomorrow morning at five in the morning. Be sure to pack what you need."
Heping could feel protest touch her lips, but she dared not speak.
Her father gave a solid glare to her mother, an obvious show of disdain that rarely occurred, even if it was always below the surface.
He shook his head and scratched the back of his scalp, "Look, this whole -uh- operation has another purpose."
He had everyone's full attention.
"Normally, -well- a family will pass on their crest to the oldest child, but you two have -uh-presented an interesting dilemma."
'-what.'
"Shen, you are by far the most talented mage to come from this family for -uh- a long time. Heping- your circuits are more powerful than any I've personally seen."
She could've sworn that was the only compliment either parent had ever paid her. Even though it was for something beyond her control, she still felt her heart swell a little. Maybe she could prove herself after all?
"Choosing between the two of you is -erm- difficult. We have to choose to either have faith in our -uh- present, or in our future, which is an impossible choice."
"So," Her mother interjected, "Whoever performs best will become the official heir to our family."
"-Or," Her father interrupted, "Whoever survives. Either way, we will -uh- accept it as fate."
That was what it was. A bloody coin toss to make their choices for them. The red that had colored her blush disappeared entirely from her cheeks.
She was being sent to die to justify their indecision. What was she getting herself into?
Her mother clapped girlishly, "Do your best, both of you."
Mages were all the same.
....