Chapter 4: Summoning Heroic Spirits!
____
In a dimly lit basement, two men were meticulously arranging something.
Because the light was so faint, it was hard to see exactly what they were doing at first glance. However, under the flickering glow of surrounding candles, one could just make out a silver-white magic circle etched into the ground, emanating an ominous aura. It looked like the centerpiece of some dark ritual.
If one were to add sacrificial offerings—perhaps severed heads or entrails—it would look every bit like a stereotypical cult scene straight out of legend.
"Everything required for the summoning ritual is prepared, Kirei," said a refined man named Tokiomi, stepping toward the glowing circle. His tone carried the calm confidence of someone who believed his every move to be calculated and correct.
Seeing that Tokiomi was ready to proceed, Kirei instinctively took a few steps back, positioning himself at a safe distance, just outside the circle's perimeter.
"At last, the moment has come, and the holy relic is in place." Tokiomi's gaze shifted toward a small ornate box resting atop a modest altar nearby. A satisfied smile curled on his lips as he delicately brushed the Command Seals etched onto the back of his right hand. "The timing is perfect."
He had waited too long for this day. With the invaluable relic in his possession, Tokiomi was confident he could summon the King of Heroes, Gilgamesh. With such a powerful Servant under his command, the Holy Grail would be his, and he could finally achieve his lifelong goal of reaching the root of all knowledge.
In his mind, this summoning would be flawless.
With a calm yet deliberate motion, Tokiomi extended his right hand toward the glowing summoning circle, while his left hand steadied his raised arm. His voice rang out, clear and resolute, as he began the sacred chant:
"Its base is silver and iron.
The foundation is stone and the Archduke of the Contract.
The ancestor is my teacher, Schweinorg.
Let the wind rise from the four corners of heaven.
Shut the gates on all sides as the walls protect.
Come forth from the crown, and rotate between the three-forked roads to the kingdom.
Declare—
Your body shall be under my command, and my fate shall rest upon your blade.
If you accept the will of the Holy Grail, respond to my call.
I swear.
I shall accomplish all virtues of the world.
I shall eliminate all evils of the world.
You are entangled with the three great words of spirit.
From the Wheel of Restraint, O Guardian of Balance, descend!"
As Tokiomi's voice reverberated through the basement, brilliant white light erupted from every intricate line of the summoning circle. The glow of the Command Seals on the back of his hand intensified, casting a radiant aura around him.
The dazzling brilliance consumed the entire room, blinding both Tokiomi and Kirei for several moments. The overwhelming light forced them to shield their eyes as the magic reached its peak.
But as suddenly as it had come, the light vanished, leaving the basement cloaked once more in flickering candlelight.
At the center of the now-dim summoning circle stood a slender figure.
"Servant Saber, I have answered your summons." A blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl clad in gleaming silver-white armor spoke with poised confidence, her voice steady yet resolute. "Let me ask you: are you my Master?"
Tokiomi stared at her, his silence lingering for several moments.
No matter how he looked at her, this girl bore no resemblance whatsoever to the world's oldest hero, Gilgamesh.
A sinking feeling gripped his chest as his gaze dropped instinctively to the back of his right hand. The unmistakable glow of the Command Seals confirmed the bitter truth—this Servant was undoubtedly summoned by him.
Tokiomi's mind raced. How could this have happened? The ritual, the relic, the timing—everything had been perfect!.And yet, standing before him was not the King of Heroes he had painstakingly prepared for.
Casually, Tokiomi walked to the table where the holy relics were placed, retrieved the small box containing the relic, and opened it. Inside lay the item he had painstakingly prepared: the oldest snakeskin in the world, untouched and exactly as he had left it.
Glancing back at Saber, who stood looking bewildered, then at the snakeskin in his hand, Tokiomi felt a pang of despair. He muttered to himself, "Did I… buy a fake?"
---
Meanwhile, a similar scenario was unfolding in an ancient castle in Germany.
A man clad in a black windbreaker had just completed his own summoning ritual. As the radiant light emanating from the summoning circle gradually faded, a figure with long white hair appeared before him, clutching what seemed to be a staff.
"Kiritsugu, is this… King Arthur?" Irisviel, who stood behind Kiritsugu, asked hesitantly. Her eyes shifted between the mysterious white-haired man and the still-glowing circle. No matter how she looked at him, she couldn't reconcile this man's appearance with the legendary King Arthur Pendragon.
Before Kiritsugu could respond, the white-haired man spoke first. "Of course I'm not King Arthur."
"Then who are you?" Kiritsugu asked, his voice even and measured. "Introduce yourself."
"I'm Merlin, known as the Magician of Flowers and the court wizard who aided King Arthur. Feel free to call me Merlin," the man said with a cheerful grin. He twirled his staff and pointed it at the ground, causing a circle of glowing flowers to bloom beneath his feet.
Kiritsugu took a slow drag from his cigarette, exhaling smoke thoughtfully. "Did the ritual go wrong? I summoned King Arthur's court wizard instead of the King herself… But as long as you can fight, it's fine."
"Ahahaha, this Master is quite the joker!" Merlin laughed, scratching the back of his head with his free hand. Then, his expression turned serious. "But let me be clear: I am absolutely useless in battle! Beyond escaping danger and preserving my own life, I'm basically a liability."
A long silence followed Merlin's confession.
"…Kiritsugu," Irisviel whispered, leaning close to her husband's ear, "can Servants… be returned?"
---
Back in Fuyuki, night had fallen completely.
Elric Bradley and Tom had finally found what could serve as a temporary base—a long-abandoned house. Or, if he wanted to sound more sophisticated, he could call it a "magic workshop."
The house, clearly untouched for at least two decades, exuded an eerie atmosphere. Even from outside the dusty windows, its unsettling aura was palpable, and one could almost believe it housed ghosts.
Elric, however, was unfazed. Years ago, he had worked part-time at a haunted house attraction. He wasn't easily frightened. Besides, even if there were ghosts, wasn't that what Tom was for? Surely, the cat could take the brunt of any supernatural trouble.
Initially, Elric had planned to break in through a window, but then he realized Tom could slip through the narrow crack under the door. Of course, this would require Tom to temporarily transform into his comically glitchy, two-dimensional state, but he could easily return to normal afterward.
However, when Elric suggested this, Tom immediately became paralyzed with fear.
"Hey… Tom, why are you holding onto my legs?" Elric asked, looking down in confusion at the cat clinging desperately to his calves. Tom had wrapped his arms, legs, and even his tail tightly around him, refusing to let go.
No matter how Elric tried to pry him off, Tom's grip only tightened. It was as if his limbs had turned to rubber, clinging to Elric like the tentacles of an octopus.
"Tom! What are you doing? Let go!" Elric exclaimed, pulling at Tom's arms.