A Greeting

When Ryan and his group arrived at the trial court, they could immediately feel a lot of attention and gazes suddenly aimed at them as a pin-drop silence descended on the site.

The whole venue was like an amphitheater. There was a podium in the middle for Illya and her entourage. Twelve seats located at highest place, circling the whole venue in all directions. These were likely the seats belonged to the twelve Lords of Clock Tower. While prominent magi of various faculties and disciplines sat on the lower seats, directly aligning with their respective faction and Lord.

It was like they had just entered a lion's den. Ryan realized that a thick pressure of mana had actually pervaded the entire venue heavily, as if a mountain was weighing on one's spirit.

Even so, for Ryan whose soul had evolved to a higher being, it could be said as barely tickling for him. Artoria also had no problem withstanding it due to her own power and her connection with Ryan. It was Illyasviel who looked slightly uncomfortable from this pressure.

'…why's she acting so poorly like that? With the Third Magic she wields, this much should not have an effect on her.'

Before Ryan could say anything to her, Illyasviel glanced at Ryan, blinking discreetly with mischievous glint in her eyes.

Ryan dropped the idea to take action against that overbearing pressure after Illyasviel hinted at him. After all, although he was not affected by it, having that pressure around and letting them showing off their authority like that was quite annoying.

Not to mention that Ryan had also been feeling quite irritated for some reason since he arrived at Clock Tower. It was like anything he saw at the Clock Tower, be it the buildings or the group of magi, they all made him feeling a sense of disgust like when one laid their eyes on a pile of rotten shit.

"You have arrived child of Einzbern." An old woman from one of the highest seats broke the silence. She looked toward Illyasviel with kind, but sharp eyes as she sized their entourage.

"Greeting to you, Lords and magi of Click Tower. I am Illyasviel von Einzbern, the current head of Einzbern family. I wonder...for what crime did I do, to warrant me this trial?" Illya smiled brightly like a naive young girl, but her tone was indifferent as she gazed at the attending Lords and group of magus in the court.

When Ryan looked at the twelve seats on the highest position, he found six seats were filled while the other six were empty. Among those Lords who attended the court, he found some familiar faces.

Lord El-Melloi II, Waver Velvet. Beside her was Reines, his disciple and younger step-sister. Reines was also the de facto head of Archibald family in this generation.

The person standing behind Lord El-Melloi II while hiding her face under the hood should be Gray, she held her Mystic Code tightly when she saw Artoria smiling gently at her.

Marisbury Animusphere. Head of Animusphere family, and the founder of Chaldea Security Organization in another worldline.

Marisbury's daughter, the young Olga Marie was standing silently behind him, she frowned a little when she felt Ryan was observing her.

As for the other Lords, Ryan didn't know about them. Even if Illya had briefed him about the current reigning Lords of Clock Tower, he particularly paid them no mind. His gaze swept past the other four Lords lightly before he became bored.

A blonde middle-aged man with bear-like physique. His eyes were firm and indifferent, but he seemed to hold a certain interest when he looked at Illyasviel.

A white-haired old man with blackened skin looking as though he was already one foot into his grave, yet still refused to die. His face held unconcealed disdain as he looked at Ryan and Illyasviel.

Another old geezer seated on the Lord seat would be an old woman with genial look and a pair of sharp eyes which seemed to gaze deeper into one's inner thought. Her gaze was focused on Artoria while she also sneaked a glance at Gray hiding behind Lord El-Melloi II. A thoughtful look gradually emerged within her bright eyes as she seemed to have something in mind.

Lastly, there was a stern-looking young woman in her early twenties. She looked like the kind of prideful woman who paid much attention to her own set of rules. Her bearing was like a queen overseeing her court, as if everything was within her grasp.

"You don't even realize your disgraceful mistake, yet you have the gall to make us wait for so long, little doll!"

"The Einzbern truly has fallen so low to make a little girl their representative. Tsk. Tsk. Tsk."

"Cut the crap, just fess up on your blunder, Einzbern's little girl!"

"What did you expect when you closed the path to the [Root] before?! Not only once, but twice!"

"She doesn't even deserve the chance for this trial. We should just cut open her brain and analyze her memory from that event."

"Extract her soul and torture it. We could have just interrogated her directly rather than doing this troublesome matter."

"...the Lords are too merciful to grant you a chance in this trial, Einzbern girl. Be grateful, and confess your wrongdoing truthfully."

The voices of many magi spoke loudly of their arrogance and selfishness. Some of them were even plainly trying to curry favor with the Lord of their respective faction, while some were more discreet in doing so.

The Lords kept their silence as though they didn't hear the commotion below them. They still kept their gaze on Illyasviel and her entourage, waiting for their response.

"Honestly, what do our ritual in the Far East have anything to do with you all? If anything, it's under the domain of our three families: The Einzbern-Tohsaka-Makiri."

Illyasviel spoke coldly as she gazed at everyone on the venue. Even as she looked at the Lords at highest seat, she still remained undaunted.

"You..!"

"Ungrateful girl!"

Looking at the incensed and intrigued crowds, Illyasviel continued, "No need for the pretense, gentlemen and ladies. In truth, you just want to butt your nose into anything profitable for you."

"!!"

"This little girl doesn't even understand basic manner. It's a pity, but she won't likely to live long."

Some people among the attending magus even sent a traceless curse on Illyasviel without any notice, intending to cripple her silently.

"I don't really want to come here, but some things still need to be said, and so I am here." Illya's sweet smile returned. But one would be doomed if they were captivated by her smile, for her wrath was not something they could bear.

Those curses which were supposed to strike her were bounced back to their respective owners. As a result, some magus on the venue collapsed on the spot after their own curses struck them.

In addition, shapeless pressure suddenly exploded forth from Illyasviel's little figure, breaking the thick pressure of mana within the venue to some people's surprise.

"As of this moment, Fuyuki Holy Grail War ritual has lost its meaning, for we –the Einzbern– have realized its true purpose."

Her bell-like voice rang clearly throughout the court, silencing those noisy crowds. Most of them looked perplexed at her sudden announcement. Only two Lords among the six truly understood the implication behind Illyasviel's words. Their expression turned grave as various thought appeared inside their mind.

As it stood, if what Illyasviel said was true, then that was not a matter they could take lightly.

The Third Magic.

Only few people knew about the core of Holy Grail War was in pursuit of reclaiming the lost mystery of Third Magic.

Barthomeloi family was privy to some intelligence on various family and magic rituals on the world. Based on that, they could deduce the truth about Fuyuki Holy Grail War since long ago.

They stayed silent in respect to the arbitrator of the Holy Grail War ritual, the Second Magician– one of the Founder of the Mage's Association, and allowed the magic ritual to run its course without much interference because they didn't see how the Einzbern could succeed in their endeavor.

In the first place, since the Einzbern already lost the mystery of Third Magic due to their negligence, it meant they were not cut out to possess the Third Magic. Their attempt to regain it was looked down by the Barthomeloi as a mere fool's errand.

And so–

When Barthomeloi Lorelei, the current head of Barthomeloi family and vice-director of the Mage's Association, had realized the hindsight behind Illyasviel's statement, she couldn't help being shocked beyond belief.

Meanwhile, Marisbury Animusphere was surprised for another reason. It couldn't come to his reasoning how the Einzbern could regain the Third Magic since he knew the Greater Grail was corrupted.

While there was also the possibility for the Greater Grail to be purified, but he believed that no men living in this era could achieve that feat. It was because just the act of purifying the corrupted Grail itself was close to a miracle already.

"Illyasviel von Einzbern, is it? Do you truly understand the meaning behind your words?" Marisbury who looked calm as ever since the start of the trial was looking grim as he spoke coldly to Illya.

"Well, there is no use for me to tell lies here, uncle." Illya replied lightly. She didn't seem to mind some magus who went to block the door, likely wanting to prevent her from escaping from this place.

"I see. All the more reason we can't let you go easily, then."

Marisbury looked toward Barthomeloi Lorelei for a second. Seeing her nodding slightly, he sighed.

"…even if you know it's futile? You should understand that no amount of your magecraft can reach us, magi of Animusphere." Illya smiled calmly.

Us? What did she mean…?

When Marisbury saw that Ryan and that beautiful blonde woman were looking unruffled, calm with no sign of fear despite being within the boundary of Clock Tower's magic field, it finally dawned on him.

"Haaahh... This is really boring. Looks like I am really not suited for this kind of event..." Ryan yawned a little as he looked bored to see more of their clamoring.

He got up from his seat, walking calmly to the exit. He didn't care about any strange gazes, curses, or other spells aimed at him. Some magus who were trying to bar his path were bounced back by unknown force, pushing them away from him.

"This is no declaration of war, but you can also think this as a greeting– and a warning."

Illyasivel and Artoria looked at each other, smiling helplessly as they had foreseen this happening from miles ago.

"You. Stop there! Where do you think you're going?"

Barrage of flaming shots were hurled toward Ryan, but they were deflected by Artoria as she wielded the sacred lance.

"Please bear with my Master. He is not really in the best mood at this moment." Artoria revealed a slightly apologetic look after she parried those spells easily.

"That spear...! It's really her!" Gray and Add were equally surprised seeing the sacred lance held by Artoria.

Ryan sneered at the agitated group of magus and to the six Lords who were staying silent even at this time.

"A trial? What a joke. It's already good I don't cause trouble for you guys, yet you dare to put a crime tag on my little sister, aren't you just courting trouble?"

The six Lords and their own entourage had different expression on their face at that moment. Some of them looked intrigued, the others were displeased, and some were indifferent.

Marisbury, who was aware of Ryan's identity, had an intrigued smile on his face. He glanced at the other Lords, hinting at them to let him handle this matter.

"Then, what are you after, young man?"

A little surprised look flashed past Ryan's expression for a moment when he heard Marisbury's question. He had a look saying as if Marisbury was asking the obvious...

"What am I seeking? I was just curious about the famous Mage's Association, so I just took the ride along with my little sister here. Now that I have seen it... you're all pretty boring, and I regret coming here on an impulse."

Ryan shrugged calmly as he took in their incessant look of anger with schadenfreude laugh.

"Let's go, Lancer, Illya. This place isn't as interesting as I thought. *sigh*..."

Under many people's furious gazes, Ryan, Artoria, and Illyasviel made their way out. It was when they were about to step outside the door that an indifferent voice spoke out from the stern-looking woman on the Lord seat.

"Do you really think you can get to do as you please here, upstart magi? Aren't you thinking too lowly of us?"

Bathomeloi Lorelei had finally spoken. Her mana spiked as she was angry at Ryan's infuriating behaviour.

Though, as her gaze bore down coldly on Ryan, he was smiling instead.

"I do, and I won't pretend otherwise. Like I said before; this is a greeting, and also a warning."

The air seemed to weigh down heavily on everyone present there as an overwhelming pressure greater than Illyasviel's previous outburst suddenly descended on the entire building. It was not the suppression of mana, but a pure suppression on their spirit as though a higher dimensional being was emanating the essence of their very being unto the world.

Some of the six Lords had their countenance turned ugly, while the rest of them wore heavy expression as they tried to resist the sudden pressure on their spirit. However, those magus of lower ranks were unable to handle that pressure as most of them collapsed, fainted on the spot. The few magus who had quite powerful spirit could barely withstand it as they keeled over, looking over at Ryan with horror inside their eyes.

Of course, Ryan took special care for some people there so they wouldn't feel the immense pressure currently bearing down.

"I won't mess with you guys as long as you don't mess with me. And so–!"

BOOM!

The sound of explosion from outside cut off what Ryan was going to say. His countenance became strange as he seemed to see the feedback images Yu Miaoyi shared to him subconsciously.

"…well, whatever. That's that, I guess."

Ryan walked out of the court as he quickly went to a certain direction.

Artoria didn't rush to follow him as she accompanied Illyasviel. In truth, she just would not want to disturb Ryan and Yu Miaoyi, she wanted them to sort their matter soon so it would not drag longer than it was supposed to be.

Artoria turned around to look at Gray, smiling gently, as she spoke softly,

"If you find it in yourself, please forgive your ancestor for putting such burden on you, young girl. In all honesty, I never ask for a resurrection like what they desired of me.

"If you want to break that curse, come find him. I am not well-versed in magecraft, but he should be able to unwind the magecraft my sister Morgan placed on you. Think it thoroughly before you decide, young girl."

At first, Gray was hiding behind Lord El-Melloi II when Artoria looked at her. However, when she sensed the genuine care and apologetic feeling Artoria showed her, she braced herself to step out of his shade, and looked back at Artoria despite her nervousness.

"…I am sorry…" Gray tried to shout, but only a soft voice came out of her.

She used to hate her current face as it was not hers but Artoria's. She resented her family and the villagers on her hometown for forcing her to shoulder the burden as the vessel for King Arthur's resurrection.

However, when she finally saw how Artoria looked and acted right now, Gray could not help feeling admiration growing inside her heart. Artoria was truly like the figure of shining knight in her earliest dream, the one she once adored on her childhood as she was often told of her/his(?) tale in her early days at the village.

At that moment, the overwhelming pressure had disappeared as soon as Ryan left the place.

Marisbury looked at Illyasviel, asking her earnestly, "Have you really realized the mystery of Third Magic?"

Illyasviel looked slightly surprised, but she soon beamed a sweet smile in reply, "Yeah. But~~ it isn't only about the Third Magic. My bad brother, Ryan, is the wielder of the Sixth Magic."

The remaining magus who stayed awake from the previous outburst could not help feeling stunned and lightheaded the moment Illya finished her sentence. It was as if thousand bolts of lightning were raining down on their mind. Even more magus fainted and white foams flowed from their mouth.

They felt that those magus who passed out earlier were luckier than them as they didn't have to listen to this shocking revelation now...

"I-im-impossible...!*!($;+#!?!!!&$)!"

"No! The Sixth is merely a hypothetical rumor, you are lying!" 

A magi seemed so desperate that he tried to deny it with all he had. He was cursing so much that his latter sentence was literally a gibberish.

Illya chuckled coldly when she saw the denial in their eyes. She walked out accompanied by Artoria, but not before leaving a little message to these stunned magus,

"I don't care whether you believe it or not, as it is merely the truth. My brother may be a little hot-headed and hasty so he won't bother speaking about it, but I'm going to say this: cooperation is not impossible, but we should reconsider our position again."

Silence filled the court as Illya and Artoria finally left. The six Lords looked at each other in dismay after realizing that the supposed trial had become similar to a joke.

"Gosh! That young man is really audacious. Doesn't he have any respect for the elderly?"

"...that woman is definitely a Servant, but her condition seems strange. It feels like she is also a real human, instead of a Servant."

"If what that little Einzbern girl said was true, wouldn't it possible to materialize that Servant's soul unto the present world?"

"It is definitely possible. However, it just adds more confusion to this matter. The problem is that the Greater Grail was supposedly corrupted, and it needed the soul of all seven Servants before it could be properly materialized."

"Hey, I've been meaning to ask this since some time ago, but you haven't told us how you can know so much about the ritual in Fuyuki City, Lord Animusphere."

"…ah, you can just attribute it to me for having a special interest in the Holy Grail War."

Barthomeloi Lorelei had regained her indifference look as she saw at the mess that court had become. Listening to her fellow Lords, she could not help feeling their rambling was really useless.

They know there is a commotion outside, yet they still act so oblivious about that. It is clear to her that they intend to see how that upstart of magi would fare, as there seems to be a lining thread that connect him with the previous explosion.

Looking at his expression, it doesn't seem like a big deal. However, this is our territory! Letting others to do as they please in our domain… well, let's hope they have the strength to match up with their arrogance! Else, this place will be their downfall.

"As for whether they have really realized the Third or the Sixth, let's observe them for a while. For now, we should see how they would deal with sudden appearance of that abomination."