@TheGreenerGrey
The warm, salty breeze that blew in through the open door of the smaller warehouse ruffled Jannik’s hair, forcing him to pause from his inscription of the large summoning rune he was making. He tied back the longer portions of it, though his bangs and part of of the rest of his hair flopped out from the the loose ponytail he had, drifting into his face once more. He once more pulled out his scribe, setting to work on the circle he was carving into the concrete floor.
It had finally happened. He’d had a feeling that something big had been coming for the last week or so, and when the seal had finally formed on the back of his left hand, he knew he’d been chosen for the Holy Grail War. At that point, it had been a matter of finding an artefact from one of the heroic spirits that he would be able to summon. After a few days of searching, using his runic magic to effectively seek out the nearest one, he’d stumbled upon a very old helmet in an antiques shop. It had listed that it as simply a reproduction of a classical piece, and Jannik was able to purchase it fairly cheaply, but he knew it for what it really was: armor from a man who’d become a heroic spirit.
So here he was, sweating ever so slightly as he used the utmost care to carve the razor-thin lines of the circle he’d made. It was a slight variant to a normal summoning circle, meant to use some of the latent magical energy in the world around him to help fuel the summoning, though not allowing any of the binding process to be left out. He wouldn’t lose control of the Servant, if they chose to answer his call. The helmet sat on a simple wooden pedestal at about waist height, ready to be picked up and put on. He’d taken some time to learn who the helm had belonged to in the past, and though the man wasn’t exactly who he’d hoped, there was a good chance he’d make a very powerful servant.
As he finished the circle, Jannik stepped back and looked at his work. It was perfect, perhaps as well done as he’d ever managed, and it had a certain gravitas to it that other rune-work he’d done simply couldn’t match. It truly was a circle of a Master. He set his scribe down on a folding table he’d brought with him, picking up a thin notebook instead. While he was certain many in the magical community would scoff at him for having such modern implements, in his opinion, they could all go fuck themselves. If he could use a simple table just to hold his shit while he worked, then why did he need some hundred-plus -year-old desk from someone famous? For the sanctity of the situation?
He laughed, then opened the notebook, starting the incantation that would summon his Servant, though he wasn’t yet sure which one he’d get. Based on the fact that he was using a piece of armour as the catalyst, he suspected it would be either Rider or Saber, possibly Berserker, but he couldn’t know until he’d finally cast the spell.
“Let Silver and Steel be the essence.
Let stone and the Archduke of Contracts be the foundation.
Let my great master, Schreiber, be the ancestor.
Let rise a wall against the wind that falls.
Let the four cardinal gates close.
From the Crown, come forth and follow the forked road to the Kingdom.”
As he spoke, he felt the magic gripping him and almost pulling him along, but he was in control of it, and thus he continued.
“I hereby declare,
My will creates your body,
And your shield will ensure my fate.
The Holy Grail summons you.
If this offering is accepted, answer my Summoning.”
He could not only feel it working, but see it as well. The circle was radiant at his feet, brilliant ice-blue light emanating from the carefully scribed lines.
“Thus I swear,
I will be all that is good in the World and in Heaven,
And I will protect all from the Evils of Hell.”
“You, who are with the Trinity of Power,
Come forth from the circle of constraint.
Protector of the Divine Balance!”
The circle flared with light, blindingly bright. Outside of the warehouse, it looked like a lighthouse had gone off within, bathing the waterside immediately next to the building in light like the noonday sun. Within, Jannik waited to see if his summoning had actually worked.
As the light dimmed, Jannik was greeted with the sight of a powerful figure clad in armour kneeling before him, wisps of ice-blue power trailing from the armour as the figure knelt, head bowed yet still at face level to the Master.
A truly massive, metallic tower shield was clad to the arm of the armoured figure. Larger than even the heroic spirit, the shield caught the eye of all who witnessed it, as grand as it was. Power practically came off of if in waves, and as it touched the floor of the warehouse whilst its master knelt the floor cracked and splintered beneath it.
Behind the figure, another rose in the darkness. Sockets that had long since held eyes peered down at Jannik whilst gums held in a permanent state of decay peeled back to reveal jagged fangs and once again that blue light. The massive, undead wolf silently watched Jannik and its Rider as it memorized its new charge.
Standing, the armour clad figure rose from its kneeling position. From there Jannik saw that what he had once thought a helmet was instead the spirit itself. Flesh and blood met the gaze of bone and magic, trails of blue light emanating from the skeleton’s sockets as it silently reached forward for the helmet upon the stool with one hand.
Grasping it, the skeleton looked away from the one who summoned him to gaze at the helmet. Before Jannik’s eyes, the ancient and tarnished metal warped and shook, taking upon a luster to match the rest of the armour Rider wore.
Still looking at the helmet, the jaws to the skeleton creaked open. “Are you… the one to be my master?”
Jannik paused as his Servant appeared, unsure of how to react. He wondered if he’d not done things perfectly, considering the state of decay that the Servant was in, but then again, who knew the fine details. The magus grinned a bit wryly, then cleared his throat.
“I am.” He looked to the massive wolf behind the armored skeleton, then back to his Servant. “I take it that you are of the Rider class. Am I correct?” He stepped forward, noting the cracks in the concrete where the shield had met the artificial stone with curiosity. If just resting the item there could cause such damage, just how powerful of a Servant had he summoned.
A secret exuberance thrilled through him at the thought. Perhaps he would be able to redeem himself in his family’s eyes after all. Maybe he’d manage to win and- He stopped his train of thought. A Holy Grail War would not suffer ‘maybe’ and ‘possibly’. It needed absolute confidence from the mage in their Servant and their skills for a victory.
Rider nodded, reaching a gauntleted hand behind himself to stroke the Wulgar. “Yes. I am a Rider. This is my mount, Revenant.” He states simply, voice an eternal death rattle.
Pulling his hand back down, Rider, placed the helmet over his eyes, obscuring his true nature to the world as the armour blocked all insight as to his true form. “I am to be your servant throughout this war.” He stated, a fact known to both. “I swear upon mine honour,” he continued as he bowed his now armoured head once again towards Jannik. “That as long as the code of honour is followed, I will let nothing stand in our way. I shall serve you until victory… or death.”
“What is your name, my master?”
With the armor now complete, Jannik couldn’t help but be impressed. Where he’d been concerned, there was now only the solidarity of the coming victory. With someone so strong, and so well protected, there couldn’t possibly be any way he’d lose. His wry smile became a somewhat toothy grin, confident.
“My name is Jannik Schreiber,” he pronounced it ‘yannik’, “ and I’m pleased to have you as my Servant, Rider. You and Revenant both. Tell me, who were you before you became a heroic spirit. I know some lore, but none that includes such a mighty individual and a creature as powerful as your steed.”
His curiosity was piqued, that much was certain, but even as he let loose with his emotions, his excitement showing, he was already trying to think of ways to use Rider’s physical attributes to their utmost potential, especially with Jannik’s less capable casting methods.
“I was… a defender. A champion of the people. When others turned their backs on them, I stood for them. It didn’t matter where they were from. I would not, and will not, allow the innocent to come to harm over the squabbles of the noble and the powerful.” Rider stated, gauntleted fists clenching for a moment before releasing as the skeletal figure glanced at Revenant.
“That is how I met Revenant. A town gave him to me when he was but a cub, as a thank you. They said that the Wulgar had long been the guardians of their people, and what better companion for a defender? I was unable to refuse, and I am glad for that.” At his words, the massive wolf leaned forward to sniff at Jannik, air rushing in and out in a large wave, despite the wolf’s state.
Jannik listened carefully, trying to understand this spirit who’d once been such a staunch man. It wasn’t necessarily a perfect fit for him, a mercenary might’ve been better, but he was in a position where what was given to him was good. Very good. As Revenant sniffed him, the magus raised a hand to the Wulgar’s snout, palm open, but did not touch the creature. He simply was offering for it to get his scent, to know who he was.
“I see. It would seem that we might make an excellent team, then. One last question, before we start preparations for this war in full. What, might I ask, if your name, Rider? I would know the name of the Hero who has answered my call, who bears my fate and protects it with his shield.”
The wolf sniffed Jannik twice more, eyes narrowing before it turned away and retreated back behind its rider. Said rider was busy looking at the mage, gauging them and scrutinizing Jannik’s every action.
“There is a.. power, that comes with names. To divulge mine comes with a potential risk it can be used against me, should our enemies ever hear it.” The ancient warrior speaks. “However… I feel as if that warning alone will not stop you. In that case…”
The Rider straightened, standing to his full height and looked down at Jannik. His full form easily bearing the weight of his shield and armour, with Wulgar protectively nearby, he spoke.
“I am Magnan. Magnan the Defender.”