So, that concludes… my Grail War?
Kayneth, slumped in his wheelchair, looked utterly dejected. He had lost his Command Seals… lost his status as a Master.
Lancer remained at his side, but Kayneth had no right to command him. His Master was now that woman, his former fiancée.
Sola-Ui Nuada-Re Sophia-Ri.
She had forcibly taken his Command Seals and Master's rights, but Kayneth felt no resentment towards his fiancée.
It was all because of him, because of this Servant.
Diarmuid Ua Duibhne, the man who had seduced his fiancée, even in his Heroic Spirit form, remained utterly repulsive.
If not for him, Sola would never have treated him like this. He loved her so much, his fiancée.
Kayneth thought furiously, his grip tightening on the wheelchair armrest.
"Master, why are we here? Miss Sola will worry if you're gone too long."
Lancer, pushing the wheelchair from behind, asked. Kayneth's brow furrowed; he almost roared.
Who allowed you to call Sola by her first name? She's my fiancée, my woman! Who allows you to covet her beauty?!
But he restrained himself. This wasn't the time to fall out with his Servant. He still needed his strength, needed him to fight for him.
His Grail War wasn't over. No Command Seals? No matter… if he had no Command Seals, he would obtain them again!
Looking up at the magnificent church before him, a glint of madness appeared in Kayneth's eyes.
This was why he'd used a nighttime stroll as an excuse to bring Lancer here. To obtain Command Seals, to regain control of Lancer, he had to come here.
"Wait for me outside, Lancer. I'll chat with an acquaintance inside."
He said calmly to Lancer, who nodded slightly before dissolving into spirit form.
For Father Kotomine Risei, the overseer of the Fourth Holy Grail War, this was a joyous night.
This was his second time overseeing the Grail War. Difficult situations had arisen, but their swift resolution was a great relief.
His only regret was that Tokiomi Tohsaka hadn't received additional Command Seals as a reward, and his son, Kirei Kotomine's, Servants had been completely wiped out.
But that didn't matter; the Assassins' sacrifice wasn't in vain; they'd gathered crucial intel—Flandre's vampire identity and Rider's Bounded Field.
With this information, they held a significant advantage; the groundwork was complete. For them, who had drawn the strongest hand, victory was within their grasp.
Just as the old priest was thinking this, a creaking sound came from the hall.
Who could be visiting at this hour?
Risei wondered, stepping out of the chapel.
"I'm sorry, the church is closed."
Risei said. From the dimly lit pews, a somewhat artificial laugh echoed.
"I'm not here to pray to God."
Accompanied by the laughter, a faint creaking of wheelchair wheels on metal. A figure emerged from the darkness, still seated.
Haggard beyond recognition, unable even to stand, the figure was the once-renowned prodigy, Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald.
Those who knew his past would never have imagined him in this state. Yet, his eyes held a powerful will, a stubbornness that hinted at the former genius mage's tenacious and obstinate nature.
Kayneth had suffered grievous physical injuries, almost crippling him.
But through the El-Melloi family's connections, and a deal with a doll maker in Japan, exchanging an exorbitant sum, he'd managed to preserve the skills in his hands, painstakingly regaining mobility within the confines of his wheelchair.
His heavily-casted right pinky finger now felt pain.
"Father, how are you?"
Despite the courteous smile, Kayneth's voice held a touch of manic desperation. Perhaps this is how drug addicts sound when their effects wear off and they beg for more.
Risei stared intently at the once-brilliant mage; his face betrayed an unconcealed obsession and derangement.
Risei felt pity for Kayneth, but from an enemy's perspective, it was fortunate; otherwise, the prodigy Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald would have been a formidable opponent.
"So, Kayneth, are you seeking refuge in the Church? Don't worry; you're no longer a Master; the Church will ensure your safety."
Risei smiled, a well-intentioned remark that sounded like unbearable mockery to Kayneth. Kayneth's eyes flashed with hatred for a moment, before regaining his carefully controlled, gentlemanly composure.
"Regarding my contract with Lancer, my fiancée, Sola, and I share the responsibility. I never intended to be the sole Master; Sola and I are one Master."
"But currently, isn't Miss Sola the one providing the magical energy and managing the Command Seals?"
Kayneth's strained smile was far from courteous.
"For strategic reasons, the Command Seals are temporarily entrusted to Sola. But I retain control over the contract with Lancer. If you doubt this, you can ask Lancer himself. I am undoubtedly still a Master."
"Very well, I acknowledge your status as Master. Then, why have you visited the Church at this late hour, Kayneth?"
"Ah…"
Kayneth narrowed his eyes, greedily staring at Kotomine Risei's arm.
"Naturally… it's for the Command Seals."
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