Chapter 16 - Arrival of the True King

Alfred looked outside. There was only an hour before the war began now. He heard his sister had a concert today, but she would need to forgive him for not making it. His business was now with the massive summoning circle in the entryway of the castle. Time was not wasted. He gave a single command to his maids. "Protect the Castle. Let no familiar or Master witness this." He had figured out how to instill the vocal commands without losing his motion commands, making things simpler and less awkward for him.

The maids dispersed, and he began channeling into the circle. The stone tablet that was similar yet different from his sister's piece was the catalyst. He began his chant that was identical to Elenaria's. Lightning cracked on the clear evening outside the castle. Alfred felt the weight of this summon as he continued the chant regardless. And upon finishing.

The brightest light flashed, as though to attempt alerting not just the other participants, but the entire world of what was brought back into it. Heavy armor touched to the ground, and a being holding two gargantuan spears stood. Their armor was entirely unique, and seemed not of this world. The helmet was horned, and entirely covered the Servant's face. Long hair draped out from behind the helmet, its color as jet black as Alfred's own.

"Lancer Servant. Kneel before me, Master. And rejoice in your guaranteed victory." The voice echoed beneath the helm. It was a woman's voice.

Alfred kneeled. He wasn't one to submit so easily, but her voice held such power and command that he did so without thinking.

"As the one who kneeled, you are now my Master. I care not for those silly marks. It is for you that I shall bring victory by any means necessary, and see our wish fulfilled."

"Our wish?" Alfred hadn't spoken of his goals at all yet, obviously, they had just met.

"My wish, which is the wish of the world, and therefore our wish." She removed her helmet, revealing eyes of deep blue. One could get lost in her eyes once getting past through heavy armor, such was how deep they were. Her voice held a powerful commanding presence, and Alfred played enough games to know the origin of that armor. It was the armor of a dragon. Scaled, heavy, horned, jagged, the clues all pointed to it being so.

"May I know your true name, Lancer?" Alfred asked slowly, sweating a bit. Just who did he summon?

"You used a piece of the throne I was killed upon, I figure you would have known. I am Vortigern, and for one to stand against me they must stand as the world. You may rise." It felt like a weight was lifted from Alfred. It wasn't that he was too afraid to stand, he simply couldn't until the command was released.

"Your voice has a certain weight to it." Alfred casually tried bringing up that issue.

"It is something of an authority I have. Pay it no mind, I forget how easily it affects those of this era."

"With all due respect, I think it affects those of any era."

"Flattery will only get you so far, Master. You asked my name, I would have yours."

"Alfred Zan, head of the Zan Assassination Family. Though we aren't much of a family any more, I'm pretty sure it is just me and the maids."

"Those maids are quite devoted. Only the Assassin Servant could likely get past their perimeter."

Alfred gulped. She was able to tell all their positions from the entryway? He only felt intimidated before by his sister. If he didn't clarify that they were his maids, they were likely to have died just now.

"You have quite sharp senses." Alfred complimented once more. He was not the best studied but this was typical for Lancers, he thought. The only thing more typical would be speed, but that heavy armor likely reduced that effectiveness sharply.

"Indeed. Sharp enough to sense that fool of a nephew is here. Let us go, my lances shall taste his blood tonight." She began to march out of the castle with no time for her Master to think.

"Hold on hold on hold on!" Alfred attempted calming his servant. Vortigern in turn would stop and raise an eyebrow. "I am meeting with my sister tonight after her concert. Can't we take care of that after?" The servant seemed displeased. Was she pouting? "The war doesn't start until midnight anyways, officially. I would like to not upset the Overseer before we even really get started." Finally, the Dark King relented.

"Very well. I can accept this petition, this time." Her tone clearly implied such open questioning was not wise.

"Thank you. I will start getting ready immediately." Alfred went upstairs. He made finger motions so one of the maids would follow him. "Anything outside?"

"Miss Kallian has not returned, and your Sister seems to be having a grand time at the concert."

"Of course she is. That part of her life is the most important to her after all."