"Greetings, Namikaze-sama."
Of all things Haru had expected when he and Altera left the station, a maid standing out in front was NOT one of them.
She was a young woman with an ivory skin tone and red eyes, like she was albino. She was garbed in a white maid outfit and hood that showed no skin save for her hands and face. He could also see small tufts of pale hair peeking out from her hood. As someone who indulged in perversion, as well as having a slight maid fetish, the sight was not unwelcome. However, the tension he felt from Saber was enough to put him on edge. "Sorry, but..." he said slowly, making sure to keep his distance. "I don't believe we've met, miss..."
"Sella." the maid answered. "My name is Sella. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
"Y-You as well..." Haru bowed in an awkward manner, not used to formality like this. He stood up straight as questions popped up in his mind and he took out the letter from his pocket. "Are you the person we're supposed to meet like the letter said?"
Sella shook her head. "No. However, I am here on Lady Einzbern's orders." she answered before she stepped aside, revealing a slim, long black car waiting at the curb. "Please come along. Your car is ready."
Haru's jaw dropped. "I-Is that… a limo?!"
"Indeed. Please stop gawking and come along now. The Mistress would like to see you as soon as possible." Sella stated without missing a beat as she walked ahead of Haru. Altera turned to her master, who was still gobsmacked by the vehicle. It amused her. One would think he's never seen a limousine before.
Then again, Kuoh was not exactly a big place for one to expect to see such an expensive vehicle. After the redhead was removed from his shock, he joined Sella inside the car, taking a seat in the otherwise grand-looking interior of the vehicle before the car engine roared, and took off.
"I see Namikaze-kun has decided to skip school today..."
Rias could only hum in response as she, Kiba and Akeno walked alongside Shitori Souna, the Student Council President. The girl was slightly shorter than Rias, but possessed a slim figure with black hair cut short at the chin, as well as beautiful purple eyes. She naturally wore the Kuoh Academy Uniform, but also wore glasses atop her nose as well, thus granting her the image of a studious and strict woman, especially given her sharp look as she noted on Namikaze Haru's absence. The red-haired girl was not stupid enough to know that Sona took her duties seriously, so the boy missing school was more than enough to earn her attention and ire.
"He's just probably still trying to process everything, Sona." Rias told her. "After all, I… did make a bombshell on him."
"Yes, you did." Sona rolled her eyes. "Speaking of which, I was informed he refused your offer for an alliance."
Another proverbial stab to the heart, if only in jest. "Hurk!"
"It's true." Akeno quipped with a smile. "Though his reasons for doing so are understandable. That said, I hope he reconsiders. Rider's been in a particularly foul mood since he refused to join us."
"That's not true!" Rider shot back in indignation.
"No? Then why were you so mopey and brooding yesterday?" Akeno asked with an amused smile.
Her Servant opened her mouth to speak, but no words could escape. Instead, she turned away with a huff, folding her arms while puffing her cheeks. Her master giggled in triumph while Rias and Sona grew smiles of their own. But the Student Council President got back to the matter at hand. "If Namikaze-kun was not at school, where was he?"
"Of that, we don't know." Lancer answered the heir to the house of Sitri. "He was not at home when Berserker and I looked into his whereabouts." The man grew an amused smile. "Perhaps he has fled out of fear? I would not be surprised. He is only human, after all."
"Maybe so… but he has Saber with him, the strongest of all Servant classes. I doubt he would simply flee despite his status as a human. If what Rias claimed was of any indication, then he must be planning something." Sona reasoned. He turned down Rias' offer for an alliance and tutelage in magecraft. Either he had something up his sleeve, or he was prideful and foolish. Given his personality and from what little she knew… she was guessing the former, or perhaps neither. She then looked at her Servant, who materialized. "Caster, what are your thoughts?"
The Servant materialized in full view, revealing itself to be a man with long dark hair, bangs covering the left side of their face. It hanged over his right shoulder, tied into a long braid, and had sharp brown eyes that held pools of wisdom. He wore a black shirt with an insignia branded on the chest, encircled in red with black pants. His legs were armored up to the shin, plated by grieves that wrapped all around. A long white coat was worn over the shirt, reaching all the way down to the calves. Strangely, the coat split into three wide strips at the front, making it more similar to that of a robe than a coat. Purple strips ran criss-cross over each other at the front before joining into the designs at the shoulders. He also wore black fingerless gloves over his hands.
"Unfortunately, I cannot form an straight answer quite yet." Caster answered, his voice smooth and baritone. "However, going by what little I know of… Saber's Master is hardly a sound tactician, much less a coward. He was only recently thrown into a conflict that may very well cost him his life, if not more than that. Add that he learned that a few of his own schoolmates have revealed themselves to be Devils, only a day after nearly being killed by a Fallen Angel, and his absence is understandable. It could be possible he is seeking answers."
"I see." Sona nodded in understanding. Due to his status as a Novice, Haru would be seeking answers about the Grail War on his own. But the question was where would he go to find said answers?
Well, for the time being, she would push such thoughts aside. After all, they had an important meeting to attend.
Soon, they reached their destination. Much to the Devils' chagrin, a cold and vile feeling washed over them once they set foot on the holy grounds. As a result of them becoming masters, they must meet with the Overseer for this Grail War. To their dismay, said Overseer was a member of the Church was requested them to meet at the abandoned cathedral in town. Naturally, Holy Ground was quite unwelcoming for them. Even still, they did their best to ignore it. "Master," Berserker called, stopping them. "Lady Rias. Lady Sona. I sense another Servant inside."
"Is it Saber?"
"No."
Sona pushed up her glasses. "Must be either Assassin or Archer." she deduced. "They are the only ones we have not encountered."
"Then let's go greet them." Rias said, smiling before they entered the dilapidated church.
The wooden door creaked loudly as it was pushed open. They were greeted by a sight that contrasted the church's worn exterior. The inside had obviously undergone some repairs. The broken rows of splintered benches were now neatly lined up, refurbished and intact. The walls were coated with a new paint, and the cracks were repaired for the most part. A few of the stained glass windows were repaired, but some yet remained shattered or cracked and broken. The angel statue at the very front, situated behind an altar, looked fine for the most part. One of its wings, however, was missing. The face was also partially cracked as well, though it was small and minute.
At the front of all of this was a woman with long white hair, tied back into a single braid that reached down to her hips. Hearing their approach, she turned to reveal golden eyes. She dressed in the typical attire of a nun or priestess: a dark blue gown with a white robe underneath, and a white cape draped over the shoulders. Below were black boots held in place by a few straps.
"Going by your obvious discomfort from being here," the woman noted, turning to face them fully. "You are the Devil Masters, correct?" Sona and Rias nodded their heads. In response, the woman bowed. "I am Caren Hortensia. Overseer of the Sixth Grail War."
"I am Rias Gremory, heiress of the House of Gremory and master of Lancer." Rias bowed.
"My name is Sona Sitri, heiress of the House of Sitri and master of Caster." Sona bowed as well.
"I am Himejima Akeno, Queen of Rias Gremory and master of Rider."
"I am Kiba Yuuto, Knight of Rias Gremory and master of Berserker." Both servants of Rias bowed cordially as well.
Caren smiled thinly. "Two Masters in the employ of another?" she inquired with curiosity. "I wonder how the Servants themselves feel." She then shook her head. "No matter. I am pleased to see that you have responded to my summons."
"Not all of us, however." Sona said. "The Master of Saber is nowhere to be found." She then took a quick look around the church, and frowned. "Our Servants felt the presence of another here."
"That would be my Servant." Caren answered, earning a look of surprise from the four as Archer revealed herself, jumping down from the rafters and revealing herself. The petite Servant gave a small smile and performed a curtsy. "I am the Master of Archer. With the exception of Namikaze Haru, the Master of Saber, and Freed Sellzan, the Master of Assassin, nearly all Masters are now in attendance." She gave a small amused grin when she saw the Masters and their Servants tense, readying themselves for battle. "Oh please. Calm yourselves. As overseer, I have no wish for the Grail, and neither does my Servant. Thus, we remain a neutral force in this war, as per the task assigned to me as mediator."
The Devils remained skeptical of this. Just how was a Master selected as the Overseer? It's a conflict of interests. But she claimed to have no desire for the Grail. Could that be true...?
"I could care less if you wish to believe me," Caren continued sharply. "I surely didn't call you to discuss goals and wishes. Rather, the reason I've called you here is to address a rather troubling situation."
Their interest was then piqued when the Overseer told them this. A troubling situation? Why would they be needed for this?
Hesitantly, the Servants took seats on the benches. Seeing this, Caren smiled thinly before proceeding to take a seat herself at the altar. At this, Sona cleared her throat and spoke. "So then, why have you called us, Overseer?"
"I won't beat around the bush, Master of Caster." the woman replied. "The Master of Assassin has been causing far too much trouble as of lately. You have all heard of the mass disappearances and murders, correct?" The group nodded in confirmation, but then realization sunk in and their eyes widened in horror. "Yes… they are Assassin and his Master's doing. If this keeps up, it will not be long before an investigation may stumble upon the nature of the world we've kept hidden for as long as we have. That is not allowed to happen."
Rias frowned, troubled. "Why is Assassin and his Master murdering innocent people?"
"It is not the first time this has occurred. In the Fourth Grail War, there is a recorded incident when the Master of Caster, a serial killer who kidnapped children, had sacrificed them to provide his Servant power. The man was not a proper magus, and therefore could not supply enough mana. That being said, however, the amount of casualties was staggering and far too excessive. It also did not help the fact that the Caster-class Servant was none other than Gilles de Rais, the infamous Bluebeard who terrorized France after the death of the Maiden of Orleans." Caren narrowed her eyes dangerously as she folded her arms. "We cannot allow Assassin, nor his Master, to run amok any further."
"I see..." Sona said in understanding. "And what would we gain from this cooperation to eliminate Assassin?"
"His master's command seals." she replied swiftly. "We already have information on the Servant and his Master. The Servant Assassin is Mephistopheles, or more specifically the homonculus named after the demon. He was forged by the legendary magus Faust, though after Faust lost his bet with Mephistopheles, the demon parted some of his power unto the homonculus, which then killed its master. The Master of Assassin is a Stray Exorcist named Freed Sellzan." Upon hearing this, Kiba's eyes burned, hands clenched tightly in fury. "He was a prodigy in the Vatican, and was well known for his combat capabilities. However, his personality was too unhinged. He attacked both enemies and comrades alike, reveling in the bloodshed he caused. As a result, the church excommunicated him. It seems he came under the care of the Grigori, or more specifically, Kokabiel's care after his exile. If the records we found are true, he was also working with the Fallens who were ordered to observe Namikaze Haru for his Sacred Gear."
Caster raised a hand. "Pardon for a moment, Overseer." the Servant said politely. "Regarding that… is there a reason as to why someone like Azazel, a man obsessed with Sacred Gears, would order the boy's execution?"
"Azazel had come to the Black Sect of the Vatican Church with information." Caren told. "Apparently, Kokabiel has been taking some control over the Grigori for some time. He gave the Fallens false orders to eliminate Namikaze if they deemed him a threat."
"So it wasn't on Azazel's Orders that Namikaze-san was nearly killed? But another Fallen Cadre?" Berserker inquired.
"Exactly. Azazel merely wanted to observe Namikaze Haru for his Sacred gear, while Kokabiel deemed him too dangerous to live. As a result, he ordered his subordinates to kill him under the pretext that those specific commands came from Azazel himself."
Rias frowned heavily. "Why on Earth would Kokabiel consider him a threat?"
"Of that, we don't know." Caren shook her head. "All that we are aware of is that he possesses a dragon-type gear. Possibly Boosted Gear, the Red Dragon Emperor's Gauntlet. However, all we have is mere speculation." The woman then returned the conversation back to the matter at hand. "At any rate, Freed Sellzan was working with the Fallens. However, now that they have been disposed, he is working alone. Running around like a scared rat. And that makes him dangerous. He's no doubt feeding Assassin with prana in order to prepare himself."
Sona nodded. "Very well, then." she said with a coldness. "As one of the masters of this territory, allowing someone like Freed to run around is unacceptable."
"Agreed." Rias said, looking at her friend with a smile. "I suppose now it's just a race to see who finds him first."