Beloss

Fate/Empty Providence

Alex Bradan

The Church, Dawn of Day 2

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Despite his initial intention to move quickly, Alex and his Servant had spent the following day and night before finally turning their feet towards the tall doors of the Church. He had decided in the end to explore the city first after all, and the two of them had spent the night slowly working their way through the streets of the unfamiliar town. He had considered simply sending his Servant out alone, and perhaps following with one of his Gull familiars, but in the end had chosen to join him personally. It would be best to see the city itself from a human perspective, less by some chance his plan would fail and he be driven out into it. This had taken some time, and effectively finished their first night in the war.

He had planned to visit the church the following morning instead, but to his annoyance, had found the next day in his early Tarot reading, that the Scuttle would soon require unexpected repairs if it were not serviced promptly. The morning then had been spent inspecting the ship, and once the problem was found, in repairing it. The unfortunate incident had burned up most of the day, and between this and catching up on the sleep he had lost last night, the time flew by till the day and most of the following night were used up. It was an unmistakably frustrating start to his war of planned efficiency, but in the end there was nothing to be done.

So it was that it was not untill the dawn of the second day that Alex finally found his feet pointed towards the Church, and the administrator who supposedly waited for them there. He only hoped that they would receive him at this time. Behind him Archer floated, invisible, but unmistakable to anyone with a sense for the magical. He had sent the ancient mariner out to scout the city thoroughly while he focused on the necessary maintenance, and read his cards in the meantime, and so at least he did not count the past two nights wholly wasted.

"Let's do this quickly. I hope you're not an overly religious man Archer, these Chruch Agents can be ruthless, and they don't worship any sea god besides. We go in and out, and hope they write us off."

Alex finished working his way up the gently sloping hill which led to the little chapel and gained the door, knocking sharply three times with knuckles that were still stained with diesel from the night before.

---

@Cu Chulainn @Moonlit Sonata

Fate/Empty Providence

@Moonlit Sonata Sorry again, I thought I would see a rapid decrease in work after easter ended, it didn't happen as fast as I thought it would. I will post tomorow.

Fate/Empty Providence

Sorry im taking so long guys, I will post by tonight.

Fate/Empty Providence

@Cu Chulainn I think I'm going to skip to the Church if that's okay

Fate/Empty Providence

@Cu Chulainn Sorry I have taken so long to post, I thought we had done the transition to the time skip for some reason. I am going to initiate that now though. We really should have just done it as soon as it was announced.

Fate/Empty Providence

@Moonlit Sonata I put my bet on Seigfreid.

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@Cu Chulainn I am guessing Odysseus is going to go out and scout/try to murder some people, while Alex sits back on his boat trying to scry on people in between episodes of The Deadliest Catch.

Fate/Empty Providence

@SIGINT Haloo!

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@Holy Grail This seems like a perfect cut away spot to skip to the next day. You could just use his question as an ironic prompt for the time skip, since everyone knows what the answer will be.

Fate/Empty Providence

Rostam

Edge of Meadow, Southern Forest, Town Outskirts

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"Are...are you sure there is nothing you would wish of the Holy Grail? No use you can consider fighting to claim it for?"

Rostam looked back down on the small homunculus who had called him up, registering the distress in her voice. Of course it was natural for her to be upset since she had likely expended great amounts of time and effort to summon him. He scratched his beard, thinking for a moment on his current situation. Despite just meeting her, he did feel mildly obligated to the woman, she had after all summoned him, and he had been perfectly willing to follow her orders before his excellent turn of good fortune.

Besides, something else did bother him when he thought about it. The judgment of Ohrmazd had come upon him, and yet he still lived. Surely that was, to some extent proof that he still had things to accomplish in this time. While his one true wish was fulfilled, he would have been lying if he had said that he was totally free of other desires. Indeed, it was these desires that he originally believed he was seeking when he lept through time to manifest himself here.

It was only when the arrow struck him down, that he realized the true wish that had driven him to try for the grail, and then it was fulfilled.

At the same time however, those other wishes now seemed trivial. Minor whims that held little power over him. Still, the fact remained that he was alive. It would be of no sense to kill himself, or cause this girl who he did not know undue grief.

Yes, it could be said that even a minor whim was something that one could strive for if no other option presented itself. For him then, this war could be something like a fanciful expedition to a distant land when one grew bored with the pleasure gardens of the capitol.

He briefly reviewed a small checklist of things that now occurred to him which he might wish for, as a man might choose between which dessert he might eat, after having consumed a feast which had already satisfied him in every regard.

The Crystal Throne of Lohrasp was lost in this era, it would be nice to see it restored perhaps. Then there was always the possibility that some champion had been summoned who would prove interesting. That was certainly something which might be worth pursuing. Of course, if some vile servant of Angra Mainyu had been summoned in this war it would be a pleasure to slaughter them. Then there was always the prospect of sampling what new pleasures and novelties this age had to offer while he was waiting for the next battle to come.

Really, when he thought about it, continuing on in this war would at least be amusing if nothing else.

"Hmmmm." He gave Lorelei an apologetic smile, like an indulgent parent consoling a disappointed child. "Perhaps I spoke too soon. One does tend to accumulate desires after having lived for a few hundred years. I am alive still, so I suppose that I can trust that some purpose or another will manifest itself for my presence here. Very well, for now I will continue to serve you as if you were my Master, provided that you prove to be reasonable of course."

He shifted again against the tree, trying to get up. It seemed to take considerable effort, but finally he managed it, towering over Lorelei, standing on shaky feet.

He glanced over at the tremendous white horse which was grazing contentedly in the meadow a few dozen yards away. He shrugged. To keep up pretenses he should probably dismiss it at some point, but for now he saw no need. If this was to be a pleasure cruise through the modern age, then there was no sense in denying his beloved friend his grass.

If this was to be a pleasure cruise though, it would also make little sense to stay camped in the woods like this.

"Ah, my lady. Do you have any Palace or Iwan that we could stay at while we are in the country? My current injuries are irritating, and I would be greatly satisfied if I could recover in apartments appropriate to my tastes."

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@Holy Grail