Fate/Very Fake

Chapter 4 - Berserker

I woke up wrapped in an run-down shack with no memory of the days prior. The only thing that served as proof that I forgot something was the cracked Fehu rune-stone in my pocket and the stranger by my side. He dressed like a monk in a neat, sleek navy blue cloth robe done up with buttons, somehow he felt familiar. For now, I'd better find a phone and get someone to pick me up.

March 15th

Just as she tried to rise from the make-shift bed, pain shot up across her body, like countless needles through her veins until finally they fell to numbness. The Monk suddenly rushed to her side, with a brown grizzled beard and an look of absolute seriousness, he glared into her eyes, ''You are still weak, rest'' he said.

''What happened to me?'' asked Meryn meekly, as Monk turned face her, his eyes were slightly widened, revealing his grey-steel eyes. ''You contracted something fowl, I expelled it, however it's effects still linger. But if you don't remember, that is a problem'' he said, as he crouched down out of her side, fumbling with something metallic on the floor.

''Do I know you?'' replied Meryn, somewhat curious, as she listened to the noise when he rose up from the ground. His fingers were spread out like a spider, as a thin-green veil of mana spread across her face from the ornate polished steel bottle. Flickers of stardust lit up in her mind as all her memories came flooding back and there he stood, in a completely different light from before.

''I... So, you're the one that saved me? Thank you'' said Meryn, forcing herself up off the bed, enduring the excruciating pain. She fell off the bed and was caught in the Monks arms, ''You shouldn't be moving'' he said, their eyes locking. ''You don't understand, my student and colleague both died in one night -'' she said, stopping for a moment to hiss at the pain crawling up her spine.

The Monk lowered Meryn onto the floor and crouched down to her level, without any pause, he gently, but firmly held her hand. ''If there is something you must do, then it is my duty, as a servant, to accomplish it in your stead. Give the command, Master'' stated the Monk firmly, before bowing to her, the light wrapping around him like a golden veil.

Meryn sat there, stunned by this sudden display of loyalty, when she looked down at the back of her palm and noticed the red symbols and realised what this meant. ''What is your name?'' asked Meryn, gazing upon his ragged appearance, guessing just who he was.

''I cannot answer that'' said the Monk humbly, still bowing his head.

''Whatever, it doesn't really matter now. Do you know what a telephone is? I need you to make a call'' asked Meryn, sounding exhausted. ''Get one and call 44-20-7946-0940, tell them that Gergory Farner has been killed and that Meryn Uvall has been injured, and that the Holy Grail has been activated'' she said followed by a yawn, as her eyes fluttered, she fell asleep on the cold, hard ground of the shack.

Her determination had not faltered, it had merely been overwhelmed by the effects of her Servants power, Mystic Eyes of Authority. But true to his word, he did as she asked and returned shortly after calling the number she gave and the next day, Meryn awoke. Together they departed to the hotel where Meryn once stayed to await for the Mage Associations reply.

March 18th

This hotel room was modestly sized with a single queen-sized place, from the marzipan yellow curtains to the chequered rug, the room was obliviously living in the past. A small, light wooden desk sat to the side of the glass door that led out to the balcony overlooking the neon city. Outside, there was a quiet rumble in the air as music pumped out from the hotel into the rich night life of Las Vegas.

Meryn paid no heed to the noise, focusing entirely on the carving runes into on the desk where she sat underneath the yellow glow of the lamp by her side. Behind her, sitting the darkness of the room beside the bed was the Monk, an ancient hero summoned by the Holy Grail under the Berserker class. A quiet and somewhat timid man, yet caring and supportive as he had shown to Meryn the day before. It was hard to believe that this man was once a mad-man, perhaps he had gone so mad that he had come full circle or maybe it was just his legend.

The silence in the room broke as the door buzzed open, and man walked in, turning on the lights as he walked through the doorway. His name was Teodor, an Romanian-born executioner sent by the Church to assist in the war, dressed in the same attire as a modern Catholic clergyman. ''Lady Meryn Uvall?'' asked Teodor, his voice was bold and authoritative.

Meryn turned to face the voice, ''Just you?'' she asked while she continued working on the runes.

''I am only here to act as an overseer for the war, the Clocktower is mustering it's own effort for the war in meanwhile'' he stated.

''What happens now?'' asked Meryn, putting down her tools and turning to face Teodor.

''For now, I have no idea. Like you I was rushed here, but since you summoned without a circle, that means that the Grail is either lacking suitable Masters or it is unstable. At worse, The Grail will burst and Las Vegas will be consumed by black mud'' said Teodor, sounding stressed. ''We will go on patrols with your servant and lure out the Masters, will you be ready in a week?'' asks Teodor.

''Sure'' she said, returning to her runes as Teodor gave a bow, before leaving the room as suddenly as he entered. Meryn stopped carving the runes, taking a long, drawn out sigh before she returned to her work. But unaware to her, Berserker had left the room with the executioner until moments later he returned, in the same spot as he had always been.