The television Kamiyā Yuu had not turned off, and soon began airing the first episode of 'Fate/Zero.'
Although Kamiyā Yuu no longer had the energy to keep watching the anime, countless anime fans across District 11 were waiting excitedly for its premiere.
Any anime produced by 'Yosuganosora' Animation Studio was guaranteed to be a masterpiece. That had already become an iron rule recognized throughout the industry.
With the promotional PVs released so far and more than two million words of side-story novels laying the groundwork, whether they were Kamiyā Yuu's fans, readers of the side-story novels, or ordinary anime enthusiasts, everyone was incredibly curious about this anime.
...
Three years ago.
Italy—Turin.
Inside a grand and spacious classical church, the marble floor was covered with a red carpet. The interior decorations were not luxurious, yet they carried a solemn atmosphere. The lights were bright, revealing three figures standing at the center of the church.
"Command Seals?"
The young priest pondered this unfamiliar term.
The priest was not especially outstanding in appearance, but his eyes were extremely calm. There was no emotional fluctuation within them, like a stagnant pool hiding something chilling.
At this moment, an elegant middle-aged man wearing a wine-red suit smiled and explained,
"They are the seals engraved on your hand. They are proof that you have been chosen by the Holy Grail, granting the Master the ability to command a Servant."
As if emphasizing something, the calm and elegant middle-aged man directly called the young priest's name.
"Kotomine Kirei."
The young priest named Kotomine Kirei stood at the center of the church, gazing at the red Command Seals on the back of his hand as he murmured,
"The Holy Grail War. A war waged over the miraculous wish-granting machine."
"Me?" the young priest said self-mockingly.
The middle-aged man did not notice the subtle self-mockery in his tone and continued explaining,
"Ordinarily, all seven Masters chosen by the Holy Grail to command Servants should be magi. For someone like you, unrelated to magi, to be chosen by the Holy Grail this early is an extremely rare case."
"Servants?"
"Famous figures from history, or gods and heroes from legend. As long as they exist within humanity's recognition, they belong to the category of Heroic Spirits, or Servants. The Heroic Spirits summoned through the Holy Grail are treated as familiars and made to fight one another. Perhaps you find this difficult to believe, but heroes from every nation and every era awaken in the modern world and cross blades for the sake of a miracle."
After a pause, the middle-aged man continued in a proud tone,
"That is the Holy Grail War."
This elegant and composed middle-aged man had every right to be proud, because he was Tōsaka Tokiomi, head of the Tōsaka family, one of the Three Founding Families of magi who had created the Holy Grail system.
At this time, the third figure, an elderly priest, walked over and explained,
"Of course, the unwritten rule is that the war must be conducted in secret and must not become known to ordinary people. For that reason, we of the Holy Church dispatch an overseer to ensure this rule is thoroughly enforced."
Kirei asked in surprise,
"Does that mean our Church is responsible for judging a contest between magi?"
His surprise was natural. Since ancient times, magi and the Holy Church had been hostile forces. That much could be understood from the countless witches and magi the Church had burned or eliminated.
Only in the modern age, with the decline of mystery, had the two supernatural powers ceased open conflict. Even so, the relationship between the two sides could hardly be called good.
Tōsaka Tokiomi poured himself a glass of red wine. Gazing at the clear crimson liquid, he explained calmly,
"The Mage's Association is prone to taking offense at every slight and finds it difficult to render fair judgment. For that reason, just as in the previous war sixty years ago, your esteemed father will once again witness the battle between us."
Kirei asked doubtfully,
"My father will travel to Fuyuki in Japan as the overseer... Then will there be no issue with me, his blood relative, participating in the Holy Grail War?"
As if anticipating this question, the elderly priest called the middle-aged magus's name.
"Head of the Tōsaka family."
Tōsaka Tokiomi nodded.
Only after receiving the middle-aged magus's permission did the elderly priest explain,
"What you just spoke of, Kirei, is merely the surface explanation of the Holy Grail War. There is a reason I arranged for you to meet the head of the Tōsaka family today."
"Oh?"
"To be honest, long ago we obtained definite intelligence that the Holy Grail preserved in Fuyuki City is not a relic of the Son of God."
The young priest sneered as though it were only natural.
"Of course. Otherwise, the Eighth Sacrament Assembly would have received orders to recover it."
The Holy Grail was said to be a relic of Jesus, the Son of God. He once raised that cup and instructed his disciples to drink the red wine within, symbolizing his blood, thus establishing the memorial ceremony of his suffering.
Legend said the Holy Grail contained the blood of Jesus. Whoever drank from it could regain youth and even revive the dead.
If such a sacred object, one that trespassed upon God's domain, had truly fallen into the hands of magi, it would long ago have triggered a world war between magi and the Church.
The elderly priest narrowed his eyes and continued,
"Even so, the Holy Grail in Fuyuki City is powerful enough that we cannot ignore it. It is, after all, an omnipotent wish-granting machine. If it were to fall into the hands of someone with ill intentions, who knows what kind of disaster it might bring?"
The middle-aged magus, Tōsaka Tokiomi, spoke next while holding his wineglass.
"In that case, we can only choose the next best option and entrust Fuyuki City's Holy Grail to someone reliable."
With his hands behind his back, the elderly priest said,
"The Tōsaka family is a lineage of magi and also has deep ties with the Church. As for the current head himself, there is no question regarding his character. More importantly, he has clearly defined the purpose for which he will use the Holy Grail."
Tōsaka Tokiomi swirled the red wine in his glass. Reflected through the glass, his gaze held only confidence and fanatical pursuit.
"To reach the Root and touch the throne beyond the outside of the world. That is the sole wish of the Tōsaka family. However, the Einzbern family and Matō family, who once shared that goal, have now completely forgotten their original purpose. That is to say nothing of the unknown magi summoned from the outside."
"The reasons both sides desire the Holy Grail are nothing more than shallow greed."
Understanding what the two meant, Kirei laughed softly.
"Then I am to participate in this Holy Grail War and ensure that the head of the Tōsaka family wins."
Tōsaka Tokiomi smiled confidently.
"Of course, on the surface, you and I must still act as rivals. Behind the scenes, however, we will work together. We will cooperate to drive away or eliminate the other five Masters. The method may not be especially elegant, but it is necessary to ensure victory. Therefore, Kirei, you will claim to have received orders transferring you from the Holy Church to the Mage's Association, then become my apprentice in magecraft."
"The formal appointment order has already been issued. For the next three years, you will study magecraft diligently at my family's main residence in Japan. Three years later, you will summon a Servant and participate in the Holy Grail War as a Master."
After speaking, the elegant middle-aged man with a goatee took a sip of red wine.
"Now then, Kirei. Do you have any questions?"
After a moment of silence, Kirei's expression turned serious.
"Only one. What exactly does the Holy Grail seek when it chooses a Master?"
Tōsaka Tokiomi swirled his wineglass and replied calmly,
"The Holy Grail chooses as Masters those who need it most deeply."
"In that case, all Masters have their own reasons for wanting the Holy Grail."
"Not necessarily. In the past, there have been exceptions—people who originally should not have been chosen, yet still bore Command Seals."
After a pause, Tōsaka Tokiomi looked at Kirei and said,
"I understand. Kirei, you still have doubts about why you were chosen as a Master."
Kirei remained silent.
His lifeless eyes still revealed no emotion.
Indeed, that was the reason for his confusion.
He had never prayed for the Holy Grail, nor did he have any special wish.
Why had the Holy Grail chosen him?
Or did his heart contain some desire even he himself could not understand?