Fate/Zero:Act 1 Part 1

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Act 1

Nobody has ever understood Waver Velvet's talent.

As a magus, he was neither born of a famous family nor lucky enough to meet a good master. This youth was mostly self-taught and finally, through some fortunate events, had the Magus Association, which controls magi across the world, accept him into its headquarters, the teaching institution in London commonly known as the "Clock Tower". Waver always believed this fact to be incomparably honorable; he deeply believed this without doubt, and was also very proud of his own talent. Only I am the most capable student of the Clock Tower since its founding, anyone would have to respect me, at least Waver himself thought this way.

In truth, the magus lineage of the Velvets has only existed for three generations. Compared to the offspring of well-established magi family, Waver's Crest concentration and Magic Circuit quantity pales by comparison. But as time goes on, the number of Magic Circuits and concentration of Crests are also constantly increasing and expanding. Many students that received scholarships in the Clock Tower were offspring of families having more than six generations of pure magi blood.

The wonders of magecraft cannot be completed within one generation; the results of a whole life of research by parents are passed on to their children... only through this can magecraft be expected to become more and more refined. The Prana of those with a longer magus lineage being stronger is precisely because of this reason.

Furthermore, because magi's Magic Circuit quantity are determined at birth, there are some ancestral magi families that deliberately contrive to increase the amount of Magic Circuits in an offspring, therefore distancing themselves from new magi families in this regard. In other words, advantages within the world of magecraft are predetermined even before birth... This is a commonly accepted point of view.

But Waver does not see it that way.

Differences in ancestry can be made up for by increasing experience. Even without exceptional Magic Circuits, through deep understanding and skilled utilization of magecraft, the difference between quality caused by birth can be bridged. Waver has always deeply believed that. He believed himself to be an excellent example of that, and thus had always strived to show off his abilities.

But, the reality is too cruel. Those students who boast about their ancestral bloodline and those who endlessly pursue and flatter them; only those people are the mainstream of the Clock Tower, and the workings of the Clock Tower are determined by these guys. Even the lecturers are no exception, only expectant of students from famous lineages. To a "pauper" researcher like Waver, they are reluctant to even let him into the library to browse books, let alone teach him magecraft.

Why are the expectations of a magus' future dependent on his lineage?

Why is the credibility of a theory dependent on the experience of one's lineage?

Nobody cared about Waver's questions. The lecturers use flowery language to trick Waver when presented with his research thesis, then act as if Waver's been convinced otherwise, laughing at it, ignoring it.

It truly is unbelievable. His anxiety drove Waver to take action.

To expose the Magus Association's corrupt system, Waver wrote an exposition. It was titled "Inquiry of Magecraft's Path In the New Century", the result of three years of conceptualization and one year of writing. Viciously attacking the traditional views, the exposition was written with painstaking effort shows clear and intense thoughts, without a single flaw. If seen by the Inquisitors, it would definitely cause a high magnitude of unrest.

But - The Department of Eulyphis's lecturer tossed it out after casually reading through it just once.

His name is Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald. He is the heir of the Archibald family with nine generations of magus lineage, a very popular man everyone calls Lord El-Melloi. Engaged to the daughter of the principal; a lecturer at such a young age, he is the best of the best. He is also the representative of authority that Waver despises.

"A man who gives in to delusions such as you is not suited to research, Waver" - lecturer Kayneth said in a condescending manner, without a shred of pity in his voice. Kayneth's ice cold gaze is something Waver will never forget.

In the nineteen years of Waver's life, he has never been humiliated worse.

If he has the talent to be a lecturer, it was impossible for him to be unable to comprehend why Waver's exposition was exceptional. No, that man is probably jealous precisely because he understands. Afraid of Waver's hidden talent, thus becoming jealous of him, treating Waver as a threat to his own position. That is probably why he treated Waver's exposition in such a violent manner. To purposely rip an exposition of gathered wisdom... is this the attitude a scholar should assume?

Unforgivable. His talent which can cause the world to tremble is actually arbitrarily written off by an authority; there really is no justice. But not one person sympathized with Waver's frustration. The Magus Association is actually - using Waver's point of view - already corrupt to the core.

But... while living these infinitely frustrating days, Waver heard a rumor.

The rumor is that the reputed Lord El-Melloi, for the sake of adding an entry to his resume which grants him vanity, has decided to join the nearby thaumaturgical competition in the far east region.

Waver began researching about the details of this 'Heaven's Feel' overnight, and was deeply mesmerized by the horrific details.

With the wish-granting "Holy Grail" that has hidden a huge amount of prana as the stake, summoning Heroic Spirits into the present world, and commanding them as familiars, initiating a death match.

Title, authority, everything loses its value; it relies purely on real skill.

It truly is a bit barbaric, but it's a simple yet fair method of judging superiority. For an unrecognized genius, this is an excellent opportunity, an idealistic stage to exhibit himself.

Lady Luck has finally smiled at the excited Waver.

It began with the financial department's negligence. Lecturer Kayneth's requested holy relic from Macedonia... was delivered to the student Waver to give to his teacher along with normal parcels, whereas it should have been a parcel opened only when Kayneth himself was present.

Waver immediately realized that was a catalyst used to summon Servants in the Heaven's Feel. And so, he received a once in a lifetime opportunity.

He no longer has a shred of love left for the corrupt Clock Tower. The glory of graduating as a valedictorian is trash compared to the honor brought by Fuyuki's Holy Grail. The moment Waver Velvet is victorious in the war is the moment when those insignificant members of the Magus Association will grovel at his feet.

From that day on, Waver left England, heading for the island country in the far east. The Clock Tower immediately realized who stole Kayneth's parcel, but did not chase after him. Nobody knew Waver was interested in the Heaven's Feel.

But there was something Waver didn't know. Everyone thought, as far as Waver Velvet's ability was concerned, he did no more than to hide Kayneth's relic in rage. Nobody thought that he was on the level to actually knowingly risk his life to participate in a thaumaturgical competition. In this aspect, the Clock Tower really has underestimated Waver.

In the far east village, at the place that decides his destiny - Fuyuki City, Waver is currently hiding under the blanket of his bed, trying desperately to hold back his repeated laughter. No, it is impossible to hold it back. Illuminated by the dim sunlight coming through the cracks of the curtain, he raised his right hand every few seconds, letting out some muffled laughter.

With the relic in his hands, himself in Fuyuki, and enough quality as a magus... How can the Grail turn a blind eye to someone like that? Indeed, the pattern of the three fold Command Seals has clearly materialized on Waver's right hand last night, the proof of a Master who can summon a Servant. Even the ruckus made by the roosters in the courtyard nearing the time of dawn went unnoticed.

"Waver, breakfast time."

The voice of the old woman calling him on the stairs sounds different from normal this morning, seems like it's not all that annoying.

To safely begin this commemorable day, Waver quickly began changing.

Although a backwater place for an island nationality, this Fuyuki City place has a lot of tourists from other places. And precisely because of that, Waver's appearance, obviously different from that of a Japanese, did not attract too much attention. Even so, Waver was cautious and still cast a suggestion spell on the old couple who have always lived alone, deceiving them into thinking that Waver was their grandson who has returned home from studying abroad. He has very successfully used a fake identity to live comfortably here. Also, he doesn't need to pay hotel fees; it's like killing two birds with one stone. Things worked out perfectly and Waver began to have more and more admiration for his own ability to adapt.

To fully enjoy this mild morning, Waver descended the stairs to the first floor kitchen and dining room while purposefully filtering the roosters' crows from his perception. Like any other morning, the plebeian dining room table decorated with newspapers; the television news and cooking welcomed the freeloader openly.

"Good morning Waver, did you sleep well?"

"Yes, grandpa. I was sound asleep until morning."

Waver answered with a smile while he spread jam thickly on his toast. The soggy bread that costs only a hundred and eighty yen per catty wasn't very pleasant to chew. Usually, this is very unsatisfactory, so it can only be made up for by putting lots of jam on it.

Glen and Martha Mackenzie immigrated to Japan from Canada more than twenty years ago. But their son who could not get used to the Japanese lifestyle went back, creating a family in his home country. The grandson that was raised in Japan up until ten years of age also went back. Not a single letter was sent, let alone visiting. Ten years passed in this manner - the above information was obtained by Waver from the old couple by means of hypnosis. This kind of family was ideal for Waver. Through suggestions, Waver transformed the old couple's impression of their grandson into his own image, successfully becoming their beloved grandson "Waver Mackenzie."

"But Martha, ever since dawn, I felt that the chickens were very noisy... would you know why this is?"

"We have three chickens. Where exactly did they come from...?"

Hastily making up an excuse, Waver hurriedly swallowed the bread in his mouth.

"Ah, that... I have a friend who sent his pet chickens for us to take care of for a few days. He's going on a trip and won't be home, so they'll be here temporarily. I'm returning them this evening."

"Ah, so that's how it is."

It seems like they don't really mind, so the two easily believed it. The fact that these two old people have some hearing loss can be said to be a good thing. The incessant crows of the three chickens nearly annoyed the surrounding neighbors to death that day.

But the most stressed person was Waver. As soon as he found the Command Seals on his hand, Waver excitedly began preparing sacrificial offerings needed for the ceremony.

He never thought finding a chicken farm nearby would be so difficult. He finally found a small chicken farm, but catching three chickens actually wasted nearly an hour. He finally got home just as the sky began to grow bright; covered with chicken droppings and hands pecked bloody.

In the Clock Tower, animals used as sacrificial offerings were always prepared. But here, how can a genius magus such as myself be in such a piteous state for catching merely three chickens? Having this thought, Waver almost cried out of lamentation. But staring at the Command Seals on his right hand until morning, his mood began to gradually brighten.

He decided to hold the ceremony tonight. Those annoying chickens can at most live until then.

And then Waver wanted to have the strongest Servant. The relic hidden in the closet of the second floor bedroom... That will be the catalyst for summoning a great Heroic Spirit... Waver already knew that much.

The withering, half decomposed piece of cloth was a piece of the cape that once hung on the shoulder of a king. The legendary "King of Conquerors" who destroyed the Achaemenid Empire of Persia and created the world's first huge empire spanning from Greece to north western India. His Heroic Spirit will descend upon Waver through summoning tonight, to guide him to the glorious Grail.

"... Grandpa, grandma, I'm sending the chickens back to my friend's house tonight, so I might be a bit late, don't worry about me."

"Okay, be careful. Fuyuki isn't too safe lately."

"As in, that fabled serial killer has appeared once more. This world really is too scary."

Eating cheap sliced bread at that long dining table, Waver is currently surrounded by life's greatest happiness. The noisy cries of those chickens were only slightly grating.

Back to Prologue: 1 year ago

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