AN: Alright, if this reaches 1000 PS somehow, I'll post all the chapters of the fight at once. I'd rather this fic end, so I can take a step away from all this entirely.
Edit: actually nah nvm, fuck that. I feel like PS goals cheapen my love for writing. I'm posting the whole fight at once.
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That day, Waver's apartment started receiving unwanted guests much earlier than expected. Typically, the troubles which he was needed for, and the messes he had to clean up, at least had the courtesy to wait until he was done with breakfast. If he was lucky enough, they even waited until he was done with the first lecture.
That particular day however, Flat Escardos kicked open his door just as he gripped his fork, salivating over the store-bought sausages and toast Gray had prepared for him before she left. He was carrying so many chips, Waver had to wonder if he could even see the pile in his arms.
Unceremoniously, the teenager tossed them down all over the floor, then with particular caution as to not disturb the books scattered all over the musty carpet, he stepped over to Waver.
"Morning, Professor! How ya doing?"
The loud words made Waver reel. "It's too early, Flat. Come back an hour later."
"Ah, yeah, I thought so too. I told her, but she insisted! Professor, trust me, you don't want to miss this."
"She?" Waver raised a brow.
"Miss T-"
Svin entered the apartment, holding his nose. For once, instead of reeling in Flat like he usually did, Svin rushed to a window instead, forcing it open like his life depended on it before inhaling deeply of the cold air outside. Then, he turned around and joined them, placing a plastic bag on the small table in front of the couch.
"Flat's right." He said finally, "I don't know how, but he's right this time."
"I'm always right!"
"And the Sun rises in the West. Pipe down, Flat." Svin snarled, then turned to Waver, "I hope we're not too much trouble, Professor."
It would be a lie if Waver said his curiosity was not the least bit piqued.
Casting a regretful glance at the steaming sausages, Waver reached into his coat and pulled out a cigar instead. He spoke as he lit it, "So? What is it then? And why food?"
"Oh that-" Flat scratched the back of his head, sheepishly, "I thought everyone was gonna be here so I didn't want to run out of snacks. But then, Yvette said she'd watch it with Lord Meluastea and the others weren't too interested. Eh, more for us, right?!"
"What is she going to be watching, exactly?"
"That-... um, it's a surprise, yeah."
"He doesn't want to get in trouble, Professor." Svin explained, crossing his arms.
"What is it?"
"I don't either."
...
"Whatcha eating there, Professor?"
Waver quickly retrieved his plate.
Not soon after that, Luviagelita Edelfelt and Caules Forvedge joined them. Evidently, the Edelfelt Princess had been shopping and forced Caules to be her chauffeur.
Waver stood up to greet her.
"I've brought some wine, and tea as well... but I see there was no reason to trouble myself."
She took one look at his couch, ignoring Flat's shouting, and went back outside. A minute later, some deliverymen were carrying a new sofa inside, and his old reliable one went out with them. Waver decided protesting was simply not worth it and sat right back down.
"Comfortable." He noted.
"But of course, I am to grace it for a while." She sat down beside him with a subdued giggle.
Compared to Flat and Svin in their usual mockery of a uniform, Luviagelita seemed to have changed dresses again. A sleeveless sky-blue gown, with precious stones hewn into the tulle netting over her arms.
"Hi, Professor, sorry for disturbing you." Caules bowed apologetically. "I tried but-... she wouldn't take no for an answer. We'll be troubling you for a bit."
Waver accepted his words with a faint hum, "That's fine, but I have to ask what I've done for you all to come here."
"You don't know?" Luviagelita stared at him incredulously.
He could only shake his head.
"Well, I suppose it will be a delight for myself when you do find out."
So... she wasn't going to tell him either.
Waver pursed his lips and shut his eyes, inhaling deeply in an attempt to gather himself. Clearly, there was something big he was missing, for all his students to gather. And, if Luviagelita was here, then there was no way Henry wasn't connected to whatever had happened-
Goddammit.
"What did he do?"
Everyone played the fool.
For a while, he got no clear answer. His students expertly avoided tattling, and he could not help but be proud of their loyalty to one another... only, they had clearly picked a wrong time to show it.
Then, Reines was rushing into his apartment too. His 'little sister', the cause of most of his suffering, stopped at the door, leaning against the frame with a hand over her chest. She heaved and puffed as she tried to catch her breath. Behind her, Trimmau stood peacefully, eyes closed and hands at her waist.
"Wasn't Gray supposed to be with you-"
Her expression made him falter.
"My dear brother-" He heard her teeth grinding, "-What have you done this time?"
"That's what I'm trying to figure out, lady."
She held his gaze another moment, then let Trimmau speak for her, "Moments prior, we were told that the Grand, Touko Aozaki, has sent letters to all members of the Lords: Monarch, and all prominent members of the nobility from every faction. Moreover, her puppets have appeared in the main building of every department."
What?
"The contents are thus;
'You've all been left in the dust. Tear this letter.'"
The mercury maid produced a sealed letter from within her sleeve and raised it with both hands. With a nod from Reines, she tore it in two. Immediately, the paper shifted and jerked and then morphed into a small bird that easily fluttered over to the TV lying in the corner of his room.
As they watched, its eyes flashed bright, casting another screen above them.
While simple in its appearance, Waver doubted that any magus other than that absurd Grand was capable of pulling off something like this on as massive a scale as she proclaimed.
Yet, what stunted Waver and halted his breath then was not that spell, but instead what was shown on that screen. The person on that screen.
"Was Hal's hair that white?" Flat asked innocently.
Henry stood on an empty road, dressed in simple white trousers and a black tee that clung to his muscled form. Waver had never seen those eyes reminiscent of a clear summer sky shine with such excitement.
He felt Gray put a hand on his shoulder. Beside him, Luviagelita smiled joyfully, relaxing into the sofa with one leg crossed over the other.
When the view panned out just a bit more, Waver's heart dropped. His face paled, and sweat formed on his forehead.
"That... That can't be."
The King of Heroes. The same man who had destroyed his King and his army nearly a decade ago. He recalled the battle like it was yesterday. Iskandar hadn't stood a chance against that abominable weapon... and now, his student stood face-to-face with the man who wielded it.
"He can't-... He can't win. Just the mystery of any one of Gilgamesh's noble phantasms will de-stabilise his spells. Why would he want everyone to see this? Luviagelita, lady-"
The Edelfelt Princess crossed her arms under her chest.
"Fighting a servant is impossible for any magus. I know."
"Then-"
"But strangely, I can't help but believe him."
This lovestruck idiot...
Waver gripped his chest, struggling to stay upright.
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