erbe | Eins

Eins

For the elements, silver and iron. For the foundation, stone and the Archduke of Pacts. And for the ancestor, my great master, Schweinorg. Close the gates of the four directions. Come forth from the Crown and follow the forked road leading to the Kingdom. Fill, fill, fill, fill, fill. Repeat five times. When each is filled, destroy it. Set.

Heed my words. My will creates your body, and your sword creates my destiny. If you heed the Grail's call and obey my will and reason, then answer me! I hereby swear that I shall be all the good in the world. That I shall defeat all evil in the world. Thou Seventh Heaven, clad in the three great words of power, come forth from the circle of binding, Guardian of the Scales!

[This is a master (haha) post for Fate/PSLs! If you need anything specific tailored to your character (like a starter that doesn't start with the summoning like the above) let me know! We'll work something out over PM or Plurk.]

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[Through Merlin's eyes, it's easy to see how her father renews his wards. She'll be able to see how the mana flows through him and how much, where he directs it, and the usually invisible threads of it weaving their way through the grounds. All she has to be able to do is remember the incantation and exactly what he does, then copy it.]

I see... modern mages are really almost scientific in their methods, aren't they?

[It was all a lot more artful back in his day. Of course, he had a lot more to work with, and he's not exactly human. There's an elegance to this method he can appreciate regardless.]

It's not as if we have the power to preform miracles. True magic is only attainable by those with the power to make the impossible possible. All else is just magecraft.

[Which is what modern magic is. Science based magic that has limits due to its nature. These days mages can only scratch the surface of real, true magic. And that's why they search for the Root.

Rin begins mimicking what her father had done. Word for word, and with every ounce of effort she can put into making it perfectly like Tokiomi's incantation. She emphasizes each word, pronounces each syllable, exactly like him. She used to spend her life trying to emulate her father to impress him, so copying him now is a familiar action that brings forth a feeling of nostalgia.]

[Though he feels a little sorrow for the loss of magic in the world, he thinks it's beautiful, too. Isn't it just a testament to how far humanity has come? So much is possible now — the impossible shrinks year after year, taking the mystery of magic but leaving progress in its wake. Perhaps someday, even his powers will be in the realm of possibility...

With Rin's discipline and Merlin's large pool of raw mana to pull from, renewing the wards is simple. They practically hum with life when she's finished, and she'll be able to tell he's pleased.]

Very good. Now you can sleep easy!

Thank you for your help, Caster.

[Is... she being praised? It's too much to handle after seeing her father and following in his footsteps so closely. She's feeling... a lot. Too much. Her heart feels heavy or maybe just too full with confusing emotions. Rin also uses his title even in private. It — it'd just be too familiar to call him by name, wouldn't it?

She starts off to bed, leaving the workshop.]

[Ah, so formal! Well, it can't be helped, he knows he has an intimidating presence at times. Hopefully, the fact that she can't see him now will allow her to relax a little.]

Of course. Isn't it only natural for us to work together?

I'm sure some pairs that have come before us haven't exactly seen eye-to-eye, so I believe 'natural' might be pushing the envelope a little. Caster, is there anything you need from me before I retire?

[Despite her creeping fatigue and the late hour she does her best to stay perfectly polite. She can't have one of the greatest magus in history thinking she's some kind of lowbrow mage without any manners!]

There is not. Sweet dreams, Master.

[Perhaps he'll even join her in them? No, it's best to let her rest mentally as well as physically for now. But he's easily bored, so he'll probably watch from within her. If he materialized he could even try sleeping himself, but it seems safer to remain with Rin.]

[Her sleep that night is deep. Her dreams are of her father, and they're all confusing. Some are simply memories, others are warped scenes that make no sense but still include Tokiomi. There are a couple of Kirei, but those are warped as well. None of them last very long, and their short 'lifespan' means she won't be remembering them in the late morning when she finally pulls herself awake.

She feels like warmed over death. The drain on her mana was such that even if the hour wasn't late last night she'd still be skipping school. Unless Merlin makes himself known, she'll have a small lapse of memory forgetting she even summoned him at all. That's how awful she feels. Rin forces herself out of the warmth of her bed and into the chill of the winter morning.]

[Merlin politely waits until she's finished all the tasks a lady would want to before seeing anyone else (dressing, using the bathroom, and so on). Only then does he manifest physically, tilting his head slightly as he regards her.]

You seem unwell, Rin. Am I too much of a burden?

What? No! I'm fine! [Oh yes, the immediate responses of denial probably give her away.]

This is normal. I expected this to happen. Summoning can take a lot out of a magus, you know?

This isn't exactly a normal summoning. I'm still alive, after all.

[He's simply capable of choosing to manifest as a Servant on his own. Though it shouldn't take that much more of a toll on Rin from now on, the summoning did take more than usual.]

...come. I'll make you some tea with some of the flowers I brought from Avalon. Though they aren't cultivated for their taste, so I can't promise it will be palatable.

[Tea? Her interest is immediately piqued and her heart flutters. Good tea is one of the things Rin is willing to spend her money on. While she has plenty in the house, to be offered to steep petals and leaves from Avalon of all places... It's exciting. A once in a life time treat!]

Thank you, Caster. I'll head to the kitchen now.

[However as she descends the stairs something comes to mind. Legends of Avalon come back from memory, and she starts worrying if this decision is advisable. Some say the waters in Avalon are magic, and make you immortal. Others claim amazing restorative healing properties in everything at Avalon. Some say it's an island of fruit where the apples grant you immeasurable power.

While all those are exciting she doesn't know if any of those legends are real, or if any of the good things that could come of this also have a downside.]

[Some of the tales are true — in this case, he's brought a flower that will help restore her mana. It's the least he can do since he shouldn't technically be here. Merlin reaches into his robes once they get to the kitchen, producing a pouch that he pulls out a single blossom from. It resembles a camellia, but its white petals have the same iridescence in the light that Merlin's hair and eyes do. He holds it out to her to examine before he dries and brews it.]

Here.

[There's a small gasp from her. She cups his hand from the bottom and encourages it to lift while she leans forward to inhale its scent.]

It's beautiful.

[He lifts the flower to her nose, giving her time to appreciate its sweet scent before lowering his hand to dry the flower out for brewing.]

If nothing else, Avalon is beautiful. I hear that Masters and Servants share dreams — perhaps you'll see it in one of mine.

[But she won't be able to see it in person, for only those free of sin may pass. Merlin himself can't physically pass beyond the gates now. He turns to start making the tea, wondering what it might taste like. Camellia blossoms are used in tea, so it shouldn't be terrible, at least.]

[While she would like that, and there's a touch of romance in her heart that thinks it would be a nice place to live — surrounded by miracles and magic — the pragmatic part of her knows it's never meant to be. Because as a mage there is not a life without sin. Try as she might to keep bystanders out of her affairs, rules are rules...

Now's not the time to think about guidelines she disagrees with. Rin walks to her cabinet to look at her own selection of tea.]

Would you like some tea as well, Caster?

Are you going to make a second pot for me? I would be honored.

[It would be a waste for him to drink what he's serving Rin. Whatever she doesn't drink now they should keep for her to have later. It's unfortunate that he's such a drain on her...

He steps aside to wait for the tea to brew, studying Rin quietly. Other than her fatigue, she seems to be in relatively good shape. He'll bring up going around town to lay a web once she's had her tea.]

[The water is to boil and the teapot will brew his flower to boost her mana, but she has an individual strainer for single steeps. Delicately she plucks a white tea sealed in a decorative tin out of the cabinet. Slow and graceful she sets up a mug with the metal strainer that has arms that rest on the rim. Carefully Tohsaka scoops the dried loose leaves into the strainer, and then when the proper amount has been added she returns everything back where it is meant to be with measured movements. Each mug gets a coaster, and the teapot receives a trivet to protect the finish of the table from anything that would harm it.

Finally Rin takes a seat, and folds her hands in her lap.]

When I feel better we can take a tour of the city to familiarize you with your new battlefield.

[His eyes follow her as she moves about. Though he was able to learn to scry after awhile in his prison, it's been a very, very long time since he's actually been in someone's presence.

He may be just a little too interested. At least he's good at hiding it.]

My thoughts exactly. We have three days until the last servant is summoned. That should be plenty of time to lay a surveillance web on the city. We'll redirect the flow of the ley lines to send more mana here as well.

[He joins her at the table, reaching out to take the pot and pour her a cup before settling down properly. She'll find the tea to be sweet and rich, almost overwhelming — as if it's the actual essence of the flower. She'll feel better shortly after drinking it.]

[He's lucky she doesn't seem to notice his wandering eyes. She's probably too drained to. What she does notice, and thank him for, is his willingness to cater to her. Politely she thanks him before taking the kettle and pouring the water into his mug to start steeping his tea. He'll smell the white peony mixed with candied guava pieces. A light and tropical tasting tea with enough of its own sweetness to avoid needing anything else.

Gently she blows on the steam rising from her mug.]

That's possible?

[That... might make the mansion a target, though.]

Of course. Well, I suppose a modern mage may not be able to do it... but yes, it is quite possible. We'll only redirect enough to strengthen the wards on the manor, though. Any more than that would likely draw more attention than it's worth.

[He takes the mug from Rin after she's poured the water to inhale the steam. It'll be a couple minutes yet before he can drink it, but it smells good.]

[Amazing... If she gets to see him pull off that there will be absolutely no doubt this is the Merlin of legend. Everything hints toward that conclusion, but it's still difficult to believe. Merely because she's astonished she of all people has summoned one of the top mages in all of history.]

I suppose it shouldn't be too much for one such as yourself since as you must have notice this house itself is on a ley line.

Yes, your ancestors chose well.

[Merlin pauses to take a sip of that tea, closing his eyes briefly. He smiles at her to show his gratitude, forgetting for just a moment to reel in the charm that comes with his heritage. Clearing his throat, he quickly corrects that — he can't go dazzling his Master, that could get messy!]

Please be sure to take me to the temple. My being here means there won't be a Master stationed there, so I'll do my work there.

If you insist. There are people who live there, so I urge you to be careful. I don't want to make any extra work for us by having to deal with people who end up seeing things they shouldn't.

[The more likely option is she's too soft, and doesn't want to have to bloody her hands if she doesn't have to.]

You needn't worry. None of the process is visible to those who aren't magically inclined, and I will know if any other mages are nearby.

[His eyes twinkle at her over his cup as that smile twists into a little smirk.]

We won't need to hurt anyone.

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