"Asia Argento?" Caren frowned, turning away from the logs she found while focusing on her conversation on the phone. "The Holy Maiden?"
"'Former' Holy Maiden." the voice on the phone corrected her. "She was excommunicated by the Christian Church when she healed a Devil. The Vatican tried to turn over the decision, but corruption runs quite deep. A shame the idiots aren't aware of the special requirements behind Twilight Healing, or the fact that God Almighty designed the Gear specifically to heal all beings. Then again, what do you expect from a bunch of religious zealots?"
The white-haired woman smiled thinly. "You sound much like your father and his sharp tongue." she said in amusement, earning a snort. "At any rate, this Argento woman… she was taken into the care of the Grigori sometime after her excommunication?"
"That's right. She was tasked with being placed into the care of the group there at Kuoh… at least until Azazel found out that they were working for Kokabiel. Now the Governor isn't willing to take any chances. He's lucky its the Black Sect that's agreed to work with him and not any of the other stooges."
"As well as their top Executioner." Caren added dryly. "But I digress. Is she still meant to arrive here?"
"Yes. When, we don't know. Sometime within the week, maybe."
Caren gave a nod. "Understood. Is there anything else?"
There was a pause on the other end, if only briefly. "... There were reports that she had red markings on her right hand." Caren's eyes widened for a fraction before she calmed down. Red markings? That could mean a number of things… but given what was happening right now, she wasn't willing to take anything to chance. "We're confirming them right now, but if these reports are true..."
"... Then our suspicions are confirmed about this Holy Grail War."
A sigh came the reply. "How troublesome… if we're going by the records left behind by the Marshal, then chances are… we're looking at a Great Grail War."
"That was the Fourth Grail War that took place in one of the realities he observed, correct?" she inquired. "If memory serves, two points of divergence from other realities were that the Einzberns summoned Ruler rather than Avenger, and a Master named Darnic Prestone Yggmillennia stole the Grail at the end of the Third War."
"And the War that followed sixty years later resulted in a war between two factions, each with their own set of seven Servants."
"Going based on those known facts, there will be more Masters selected and chosen for the Grail War. The question that remains is how many left. It would be too presumptuous to believe it will only be 14, as some of the known Masters are supernatural beings, a phenomenon that has never happened before." Caren deduced.
"Agreed. If anything, it could end up being bigger than the Great Grail War."
Once again, another sigh. "What a pain..."
"Indeed. I'll keep in touch in case any other changes take place."
"Hai, hai..."
With that, the call came to an end. Caren removed the cell phone from her ear and stared at the screen for a brief moment.
"Master?" Archer called, sitting atop the rafters as she stared out into the horizon. By now, night was slowly approaching. From her viewpoint, where there was hardly any city lights to be found in such a small town, it would be the perfect spot to find a beautiful starry night sky. "Who was that?"
The woman looked up at her Servant and smiled. "A troublesome child, one of which I've invested in."
The twin-tailed girl cocked her head. "Eh?"
Tomorrow had come quickly as it had with Haru's explanation as to why he was skipping school. His mother was most certainly not happy about it, and he knew there would be hell to pay when he got back as he had, more or less, ran out before she could finish lecturing him about the importance to school. He and Saber had booked a ticket to Fuyuki, which would take more or less two hours or so to reach, and hopped aboard the train. Thankfully, it was relatively early in the morning, so there weren't many people around. This, of course, allowed Altera to be her cute and adorable self. Haru much preferred this side of her rather than her typical amazon side.
"I wonder what my aunt is like?" the redhead wondered as he folded his arms. "If she's ojii-san's sister, she must be pretty old."
"She may also be a Magus as well." Altera pointed out to him. "She is, after all, related to your grandmother."
"Because Granny is… a magus too, right?" he asked before frowning. "Speaking of which… how exactly did you figure that out?"
"The moment I locked eyes on her and sensed prana emanating from her body." Altera stated. "I also sensed something similar from your mother. While she possesses magic circuits, hers remain dormant and unused."
"Wait back up a minute. What exactly are magic circuits and prana?" Haru asked her.
My word, the Saber-class Servant thought, her Master surprising her more and more. He really has no idea, does he?
"Magic Circuits are what qualifies someone to be considered a magus," she explained through the knowledge she acquired when she was brought into the world. "It's a bit like a nervous system, but not in the way one might think. Their normal functions are to act as paths that convert life force into magical energy, but humans learned how to control it and use it to perform mysteries. They're also what allows one to perform magecraft, hence why anyone with magic circuits can be called a 'magus.' Prana, or magical energy, is like gasoline. It's what fuels the capabilities to forge magecraft."
Haru quirked an eyebrow. "You keep saying magecraft," he noted. "Is it something different from magic?"
"Magic would be in reference to what Casters and Magicians are capable of," Altera explained. "Magecraft, however, is more or less magic that can easily be replicated via modern means. For example, elemental based magecraft, such as a fire crystal, could be replicated with a Molotov cocktail."
"Really? So it's like a watered down, artificial version of magic?" Haru asked.
"Essentially, yes." Altera responded. "It is also known by another term called, Thaumaturgy, which is the artificial re-enactment a miracle."
"Miracles? I thought we were talking about magic."
The white-haired girl giggled. "True, but some things about magecraft can't be replicated by modern means. That said, only a magician or a Caster would usually be capable of enacting a miracle. Casters are more proficient in the arcane arts, and Magicians are… well, the only magus to ever be granted such a title would be if they managed to obtain one of the True Magics."
"True Magics?"
Before Altera could answer, the comm sparked to life. "Attention," the conductor called. "We will be arriving in Fuyuki Station shortly. Please gather your belongings. Be sure you have everything before departing. Please wait behind the yellow line before the doors open."
"Here's our stop." Haru noted as he looked out the window of the train, taking notice of the city he had failed to notice, having been engrossed in his conversation with Saber. "This is where gramps used to be… I wonder what's waiting for us here?"
"Who knows?" Altera hummed in response. "But it is here where we will find answers."
Haru nodded. He just hoped it would be the answers he would be looking for.