Night fell over an upscale neighborhood. In a luxurious apartment worthy of a magazine cover, a woman of breathtaking beauty silently observed a pendant resting on a glass table. Although she might rank just below Saber in presence, most people would recognize her instantly: she was a famous actress, a constant face on television.
The environment conveyed a strange sense of detachment, as if the place were more of a movie set than a true home. Everything was impeccable, yet cold and impersonal, as if no one truly lived there.
Sarah—that was the beautiful actress's name—stared intently at the pendant. A delicate smile played on her lips as she murmured to herself:
"I wonder what my Servant will be like…? I hope they're strong enough to win. After all, I hate losing."
Despite her outward softness, her eyes hid something far different: a contained rage mixed with implacable determination. With swift movements, she began to tidy the apartment, preparing it to receive the one she was about to summon.
Then, in a firm voice, she began the ritual:
"O being from another world, who possesses a will capable of bending the world to your ambition, I summon thee to fulfill the ambition you so desire, in exchange for acknowledging me as your Master... O Heroic Spirit."
A suffocating light took over the room. Unlike Saber's light, which emanated warmth, this one radiated a deep chill capable of penetrating bone and freezing the soul. When the glow finally dissipated, Sarah opened her eyes with expectation.
Standing before her was a young man with long black hair and equally dark eyes. He wore ancient Chinese robes, though far more refined and elegant than Fang Zheng's. His expression was gentle, almost polite... but there was something wrong with that calm.
An uncomfortable sensation crawled across Sarah's skin. In an instant, she understood.
He was just like her.
One face for the world... and another for the darkness.
Sarah's plump, rosy lips parted for her first conversation with her long-awaited Servant:
"A pleasure to meet you, my Servant. I am Sarah, your Master, and I wish to get to know you better."
She smiled dazzlingly, conveying both charm and unease. Just as Sarah had sensed her Servant's nature, he too perceived the true essence of his Master.
With a welcoming smile, the man introduced himself:
"It is a pleasure, Sarah. I am the Lancer of the Changsheng Gu family, and it will be a joy to win this war."
As he spoke, his eyes turned purple, and an aura of the same color began to emanate from his body. The gentle smile slowly distorted, transforming into a demonic smirk.
In the poorer part of the city—or perhaps just more modest, depending on the financial status of whoever named it—in a small apartment similar in size to Sarah's bedroom, sat a university student with brown hair and hazel eyes. A simple kitchen integrated into the living room, a bathroom, and a bedroom made up his home.
Before him, on the table, rested a simple chocolate bar. With a steady gaze and a calm voice, he intoned the ritual:
"O being from another world, who possesses a will capable of bending the world to your ambition, I summon thee to fulfill the ambition you so desire, in exchange for acknowledging me as your Master... O Heroic Spirit."
A blinding black light flooded the small apartment. Its intensity was such that the youth, named Leon, instinctively closed his eyes. As the luminosity began to fade, a female figure emerged before him.
She was absolutely stunning—a beauty that rivaled even Saber's. Her long black hair fell like a cascade of shadows down her back, and her dark eyes seemed to swallow the room's light. The woman stared at him in silence, her expression cold and confused. There was something about the young man that brought an uncomfortable sense of familiarity, as if he looked too much like someone she had known in another era... or another life.
Leon opened his eyes.
The moment he saw her, he was left speechless.
His heart raced; his mind went blank. He was completely hypnotized by his Servant's presence—a dark, almost divine beauty wrapped in an aura that blended elegance and danger. She, in turn, continued to observe him with a serious, expressionless face... like an abyss staring back.
The university student was breaking into a cold sweat under that piercing gaze. Though he didn't consider himself shy or anxious, he fidgeted nervously with his fingers, pondering how to start a conversation with his magnificent Servant. After all, she didn't seem social, and neither was he—he remembered classmates calling him a grumbler or annoying.
"Hey, Servant!" Leon called out, attempting to officially establish their first communication. "A pleasure to meet you. I am Leon, and I hope you know I don't intend to lose this war. If you slow me down, you will be discarded, for my wish is more important than my own life."
He spoke harshly, keeping a firm expression on the outside, even though his inside was in a total turmoil.
'Great... she probably hates me now. I ruined everything... ahhh! I got nervous and ended up being too blunt. But... I have to show my determination. I need her to know I'm serious.'