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(Fate) Chapter 248: Jason and Jeanne—My Servants (2.6k words)
🕑 Added 2025-01-05 17:42:32 +0000 UTCAt the Clock Tower, in the office of Lord El-Melloi II, Waver Velvet sat with his head in his hands, cigarette after cigarette burning in the ashtray beside him.
Smoke filled the room, but it did little to soothe his nerves.
"Troublesome disciples! All of them!” The thought of those two students made Waver Velvet feel a throbbing headache coming on.
One outright ignored his guidance and brought what amounted to a toy to participate in the Holy Grail War.
The other, worse yet, had somehow slipped away to join the conflict despite possessing no magic circuits—a complete bottom-tier magician.
At this moment, the phone on his desk rang as Waver bolted upright and snatched the receiver, speaking in an urgent voice.
"Hello? This is Waver Velvet, Lord El-Melloi II. Do you have any news about Flat Escardos or Promise?"
There was silence on the other end of the line for a while.
Waver frowned, his impatience growing as the seconds ticked by.
However, just as he was about to snap, a familiar, polite voice finally broke the silence.
"Good evening, Professor."
The polite greeting caught Waver off guard for a moment. Then he suddenly reacted.
"Promise… is that you?"
"It’s me."
On the other end of the line, Promise strolled alone through the moonlit streets of the city, having just left the forest not long ago.
Speaking of which, earlier during his clash with Gilgamesh, the forest had been completely leveled..a rare event that even managed to anger Enkidu.
Jeanne d’Arc, for her part, had been forced to raise her banner, its soft golden light barely managing to shield the two young girls and the synthetic wolf from the devastating aftermath.
In the end, Promise had once again borrowed the authority of Demeter, the Goddess of Agriculture, to restore the forest to its former state.
Only then had they been able to leave peacefully.
Hearing Promise’s voice on the line, Waver’s initial shock was replaced by visible relief as he exhaled deeply, leaning back in his chair.
"Fuck!" and muttered under his breath.
"Professor,” Promise said lightly, "you’re a Clock Tower Lord. You should really watch your language.”
Hearing his words Waver nearly laughed in frustration.
Slumping onto the sofa with the phone still in hand, he pinched the bridge of his nose before replying in an exasperated tone:
"I think I need to revise my opinion of you. You’re just like Flat—a complete idiot!"
"Professor, comparing me to Flat is just too much, isn’t it?"
"What difference does it make?!” Waver raised his voice slightly. "Do you even understand how dangerous the place you’re in is right now?"
"Of course I do,” Promise replied honestly, his tone calm. “After all, I’m one of the Masters in this Holy Grail War."
However, these words stopped Waver cold, and the many arguments he had prepared died in his throat as he stood frozen for a long moment.
Compared to Flat, Waver was clearly more worried about Promise.
After all, Flat, despite being a fool, was a prodigious mage.
But Promise had no magic circuits at all, making him the very definition of a bottom-tier mage.
Up until now, Waver’s main concern had been that Promise might accidentally get caught in the crossfire of the Holy Grail War.
But now, hearing his words, did he realise that this guy wasn’t just near the storm—he was right in the eye of it.
"How could you have been chosen as a Master?!"
Waver’s eyes widened in disbelief, but he quickly pushed past his shock as he sat sharply from his seat, and exclaimed, "Never mind that! It doesn’t matter right now. Promise, tell me your exact location immediately!"
"I don’t know what kind of intense desire you have that allowed the Holy Grail to choose you as a Master despite your lack of magic circuits, but listen to me carefully.
"This Holy Grail War has serious problems. You’re in extreme danger. Tohsaka Rin and the others are already on their way to you—join up with them immediately!"
As he spoke, Waver’s face betrayed his clear anxiety.
After all, in his mind, he was already anticipating Promise’s likely refusal...a rebellious rejection, just like before.
He must want to prove himself,
Waver thought.
'He’s always been trying to show that he can be a great magician, even without magic circuits.
That’s probably why he got involved in the Holy Grail War in the first place.
Maybe he thinks the Grail can give him magic circuits or recognition…'
The memory of Promise tossing his withdrawal application into the trash bin resurfaced in Waver’s mind, further reinforcing his theory.
What Waver hadn’t expected, however, was Promise’s immediate and straightforward response.
"Oh, I understand."
And his agreeable tone stunned Waver into silence once again.
When Promise reported his location without hesitation, Waver snapped out of it and quickly jotted it down.
'Judging by his reaction, he’s not lying…'
Relieved but still puzzled, he gave Promise several strict instructions to stay put and wait for Tohsaka Rin and the others.
After getting Promise’s firm confirmation, he finally allowed himself to relax a little.
After a while, Waver, who had arranged everything, finally breathed a sigh of relief and asked the question that had been gnawing at him from the start:
"So, what is it? Why did you join the Holy Grail War?"
And how, as someone who isn’t even a proper magician, did you have a wish strong enough to be chosen by the Grail?
What could possibly drive you to do this?
Promise fell silent for a moment.
At first, he truly hadn’t had a wish.
His decision to come here had been driven by a sense of obligation, stemming from his identities as Hera’s hero, a follower of Athena, and other roles tied to divine providence.
It felt like his place to be here.
But now, Promise had a reason—a real wish.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have taken today’s steps to openly declare his participation in the Holy Grail War.
.
.
"I want to see them again."
Promise lifted his gaze to the night sky, his eyes reflecting the glimmering stars.
"Until recently, I didn’t realize how hard it is to truly say goodbye to the past…
"It wasn’t just a game, or a dream—it was a real life.”
Enkidu had once said that Promise was not lost—he was afraid.
And she was right.
But the object of Promise’s fear wasn’t someone else, it was himself.
When a Heroic Spirit’s tale is engraved, their life is complete, and everything is returned to this era, to the beginning.
Would he still be the same person who, in the Age of Gods, was beloved by all the deities?
After all, in this era, he would truly face mortality.
So, when he encounters that high mountain cliff covered with snow again, would he still have the courage to leap from the snow-laden cliffs, to defy the abyss, and rise above?
At first, Promise didn’t care.
He thought it was just a change in lifestyle.
But then he realized some things had already become habits.
For someone who had stood at the peak of the snow-capped mountains and seen the clear skies through the blizzard, how could they ever retreat to the base and continue gazing upward in longing?
This fear was why, even here in this era, under the influence of the Holy Grail War, gods who should never have been able to manifest left their marks through various means.
Yet the Goddess of Wisdom had never once appeared with an oracle.
"So, I will win the Holy Grail War," Promise declared in an calm tone. "Then, I’ll meet them again."
.
.
.
At the same time, atop the tallest skyscraper in the city:
The master of Gilgamesh, the twelve-year-old brown-skinned and black-haired Tiné Chelc, with the help of her tribe members, also successfully found out about about Promise.
As she pored over the details, her gaze lingered on a previously overlooked student record.
After staring in silence for a long time, she finally muttered softly:
"Promise… A student under Lord El-Melloi II at the Clock Tower, labeled as his sole failure due to his lack of magic circuits.
"The weakest of his disciples, regarded as the greatest disgrace of his lineage…"
.
...
.
.
The Next Morning:
At Snowfield Airport.
"Good morning!"
Promise waved his hand and greeted the group of Lord El-Melloi II's students who had just arrived from London.
There were a total of thirty disciples who had obtained the rank of magus.
They were considered the dark force of the Clock Tower.
But the smile on Promise’s face did little to ease the simmering frustration of a few among them.
Shirou Emiya was the first to step forward, his rare display of anger evident as he shouted:
"Promise, you…!"
Before he could finish, Promise interrupted, his tone quick and apologetic:
"Sorry, I know I was wrong."
Shirou froze, stunned by the sudden admission.
The anger faded from his face, replaced by confusion.
So, he was left scratching his head awkwardly, as he muttered, "Uh… okay, just don’t do it again…"
Before he could continue, Rin Tohsaka, unable to tolerate the scene any longer, smacked the back of his head.
Then she crossed her arms in front of her chest and studied Promise as though seeing him for the first time. Her eyes narrowed, and her voice carried a mix of disbelief and suspicion, "Unbelievable… Or rather, is this your true nature, Promise?”
"Tohsaka-san, what are you talking about?" Promise blinked innocently, tilting his head. "I really don’t understand what you mean."
The moment he finished speaking, he noticed many gazes converging on him.
Among them, the most striking figure was undoubtedly Luvia Celestia Edelfelt, clad in an elegant blue gown.
Her demeanor was graceful, her beauty swanlike...well truly befitting the heiress of a prestigious Nordic magus family.
In the Clock Tower, Luvia was as renowned as Rin Tohsaka, often regarded as the other "nuclear option" of El-Melloi's class.
At this moment, Luvia was studying Promise intently, her expression one of curiosity and intrigue, as though she were seeing him for the first time.
Promise, however, simply smiled, unfazed by their scrutiny.
"Whatever!"
One of the twins from the group of thirty students suddenly stepped forward, her cheerful voice brimming with energy as she asked with excitement.
"Promise, you’re a Master now, right?"
"I heard you summoned a Servant! Who is it? Are they strong? Someone famous from history, maybe?"
As she spoke, she subtly cast a spell to ensure they would not be overheard, while another magus dealt with any hidden observers nearby.
Promise was about to reply when Rin suddenly interjected.
"Wait, let me confirm something first."
The girl furrowed her brows as she turned to Promise.
"Since you’ve already summoned a Servant, you must have a wish you want to fulfill, right?"
Seeing Promise nod in response, Rin spoke further.
"Is it to destroy the Holy Grail War?"
Seeing the young man shake his head, she spoke once again.
"In that case, from this moment on, we’re enemies.
The Holy Grail War can only have one victor, and our reason for being here... is to completely destroy the Grail!"
Her serious statement caused an awkward silence to fall over the group.
And Shirou Emiya, caught between the two, looked incredibly uncomfortable.
"Alright, who are you trying to scare?"
Luvia’s voice cut through the tension as she stepped forward, her dark blue dress contrasting sharply with Rin’s crimson outfit.
"Before we left, the professor specifically instructed us to ensure Promise’s safety… But,"
She spoke, glancing at Rin, "as you said, if he insists on claiming the Grail, that does mean he’ll stand against us in the end."
Having finished her retort, Luvia turned to Promise and spoke with a serious expression.
"So, to avoid unnecessary conflict,
I advise you to give up on the Grail now… Though, seeing as you already possess Command Seals, I doubt you’ll do so easily."
"In that case, let’s be straightforward. Until we’ve eliminated every other enemy, why don’t we form an alliance?"
Luvia’s proposal caused both Shirou Emiya and Rin Tohsaka to look nervously at Promise, awaiting his response.
To their surprise, Promise simply smiled and nodded without hesitation.
For someone who had glimpsed the threads of fate and knew nearly everything about the current situation, this development had been well within Promise’s expectations.
His quick agreement caught everyone off guard but also brought a sense of relief to the group.
After all, nobody wanted to fight their own allies unless absolutely necessary.
The happiest person in the group was undoubtedly Shirou Emiya.
In the original course of events, he wouldn’t have been here at all, after all, Rin had deliberately kept this matter from him.
His presence now was entirely because of his concern for Promise.
"Well then…" someone in the group suddenly spoke up, breaking the momentary silence. "What about Flat?"
The mention of Flat Escardos brought an awkward silence over the group once more.
Promise coughed lightly and said,
"In any case, this isn’t the best place to talk. Let’s leave here first."
Everyone glanced around, realizing how odd it looked to discuss the secrets of magecraft in the middle of a crowded airport.
Agreeing with Promise’s suggestion, they all nodded and followed him out of the airport.
.
.
.
On the way, Promise took the opportunity to pull Rin aside for a private conversation.
"Tohsaka-san, a Servant who has already left the war entrusted me with something before departing. It’s about a little girl I need to take care of.”
Under the puzzled gaze of Tohsaka Rin, Promise said without hiding anything
"She’s called Tsubaki Kuruoka, a ten-year-old girl whose body has been modified, leaving her with an abundance of magic circuits inside."
Rin frowned slightly.
Because, there was something oddly familiar about this story.
"And her magecraft system… I believe it’s one you’re familiar with: Matou Magecraft—Wormcraft.”
The moment he finished speaking, Rin froze.
Her eyes widened in shock as she stared at Promise, unable to believe what she had just heard.
Even Shirou Emiya, who had been quietly listening nearby, was stunned.
In that instant, both of their minds conjured up the same image: a gentle-looking woman with long violet hair—Sakura Matou.
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.
.
It wasn’t long before the group reached Promise’s temporary residence.
Rin, still grappling with her conflicted emotions, followed behind the group. Her thoughts were preoccupied with the revelation about Tsubaki Kuruoka, the young girl they were about to meet.
Upon seeing the little girl, the unease in Rin’s heart only deepened.
But before she could fully process the situation, her attention was drawn to something—or rather, someone—else.
"Ah, Promise, you’re back,"
Jason, who was lazily lying on the sofa, waved at Promise, then looked at the group of people who came with him, in confusion.
Meanwhile, Jeanne d’Arc, who had been tending to Tsubaki, glanced up as well.
At this moment, ahe had exchanged her golden armor for a simple, pure white dress, and her long, golden braids gave her an air of serene innocence.
Her blue eyes also blinked curiously at the new arrivals.
"Let me introduce you,” Promise did not hold back at all and announced matter-of-factly, as though the revelation were the most natural thing in the world.
"These are my Servants,”
He pointed to the man lounging on the sofa. "Jason, the captain of the Argo, and my Rider-class Servant.”
Then, he gestured toward Jeanne.
"And Jeanne d’Arc, Saint of France, my Ruler-class Servant."
