Fate/ Scarlet Phantom

Chapter 1

As Archer was summoned, something seemed very different about the process in which she was summoned. It seemed to be in complete darkness, just like the throne of heroes from which she was summoned. However, no other silhouettes would accompanied her, and the darkness seemed to be swirling, swirling in pure black mana, mixed with small strands of red, before it all withdrawn from her body in one single pulse as it burst, throughout the whole room. The walls and floor seeming to absorb this energy as it seeped into the walls and floor board. Leaving small pulses of thin, red light vibrating through the floor and the walls. Leaving a soft hum in its wake. Then after that, silence. What seemed like an eternity of a dormant, mind numbing silence. A single bright red eye flashed in the shadows of the room, then just as quickly vanished instantly.

And with the flick of a switch, the lights instantly snapped to life, reviving energy to the room, as it quickly became apparent that it was the room of an apartment building, due to the knowledge the Grail had given her. It was a rather nice apartment. It seemed to be filled with elegant and modern design, and seemed to have an upstairs as well. It seemed rather calm and smooth. With soft, and calm colors appealing to the eye, even after such a drastic change in lighting. Turning around Archer realized the whole wall itself behind her was a massive window pane, on the very top floor of the apartment suite that looked out over the entire city. It was night. Probably closer to midnight, and the city lights looked more starry than ever before. It was beautiful.

"How is it? I wasn't sure how I should approach summoning a servant, or even what servant to summon. As I have had no prior experience in this pointless bloodshed. So I figured, why not wine and dine them? Surely, the servant I summon would at the very least have good taste? I got us the highest floor. Pretty neat huh? You won't have to worry about the people around us. I have already made arrangements so that no one will be asking any questions about our reasons for being here. Not one."
The voice was feminine. Definitely a girl. If Archer would have turned around, she would have seen a hideous shadow like figure, with a single glowing red eye receding into the girls back. She sat on a stool close to Archer's summoning circle. Which, was also black, and would fade away as the creature did. Even more bizarre, when Archer turned around to look at her, she noticed the girls command seals were pitch black.

"I hope my preparations are too your liking. It was a hard time to find the location of this Grail War. I have been waiting. It has taken quite the toll, I hope I am not coming off as rude, but I expect nothing but the best from you, considering all that I put into this. I am quite anxious you know."

The girl had deep purple hair, it just barely grazed her shoulders. Short hair, with a small red ribbon tied on the left side of her hair, a bit longer on the side with the ribbon. She was in a light grey and white night gown and soft violet eyes that matched her hair completely.

Standing to her full height, Archer opened her green eyes to peer who would now be her master. There was a flash of red within in her eyes but it quickly faded away. Despite the fact of the blackened command seals and summoning circle, she didn't feel an ounce of fear nor regret only curiosity.
"You, who has summoned me. I ask, are you worthy? And if so, what might be your purpose for the grail?"
Grasping the hilt of her silver sword, she awaited the females answer.

The girl blinked, and cocked her head to the side. She narrowed her eyes and looked down, nodding firmly.
"Yes of course, as my servant I suppose you do have the right to know. Very well then, I am a magus. A magus of the corpse of a family known as the Matou family. My name is Reen Matou. I have summoned you in the name of obtaining for the vessel of paradise. The holy grail."

She stood up straight at her full height as well, to show the servant she was not intimidated by the servant either. However she gulped, but then shook her emotions out of her head, her eyes reflected a image of despair and revenge.
"My mother, Sakura Matou was abandoned by my damnation of a father. His name was Shirou Emiya. A plague, making her fall deathly ill and then disappeared. He left us alone with nothing, and I had to endure it all and keep her safe, and pay for her treatment. My reasoning for retrieving the Grail is simple..." She paused clenching her fists tightly. The shadows began to collect at her feet softly.

"I want the Grail to give me the answers I seek. Why did Shirou abandon us? Then, the power to kill him." She spat angrily. "She was a good woman, she didn't deserve to be manhandled by him and just thrown away like trash. She was soft...gentle...she never deserved what she got, and it is all Shirous fault."

Reen blinked and sighed. Scratching the back of her head and then stepped back to look at her servant. She sniffled. "Sorry...it is a rather emotional subject. I know, but what about you? Why do you believe you have been summoned by me? Do you feel like you deserve to be here? Just who are you? Do you have a wish?"
She asked as the shadows beneath her faded, and seeped into the ground. She didn't seem to notice, or if she did. She didn't let it phase her.

Looking out the apartment window, Archer relaxed her grip on the hilt of her sword and crossed her arms over her chest. A sly grin found it's way across her face as she observed the girls resolute demeanor. Reen blinked as she watched her servant look out the window, Archer's grin made her exhale silently with relief as she began to relax a little in that moment.

"Your wish for the grail is very honorable..in my eyes at least." Archer began.

Reen chuckled. "Honorable? Perhaps. But, I don't know if I will be able to say that by the end. Fulfilling my wish will most likely mean the deaths of seven others? What part of that could ever be considered honorable. It is just murder..." She sighed, talking mostly to herself at that point.

Archer sighed and ran her hand through her hair. Contemplating Reens words. "You cannot change the world without getting your hands dirty." She said slowly. "No, murder is not honorable. However, there are various ways of fighting that is considered honorable. Especially if the opponents acknowledged each other and accepted the fact that they might die beforehand. The other seven deaths that might occur, you wonder if their deaths are meaningful of your wish?"

She cast a long side look at her master before her gaze hardened with resolve.
"They made their choice and acknowledged the fact that they may die just as well as you did. If they die, that means that they are weak and unworthy of the power of the grail."

Reen blinked and looked at her servant. "Well, I guess when you put it that way, it makes sense. It is just hard to wrap my head around. I don't want to end up like that distasteful man..."

Archer nodded to herself if almost to persuade herself forward. "Very well. I deme you worthy of me and my story. So in turn, I shall answer the questions you have asked of me."

Reen chirped herself back up to liveliness when her servant said that she was worthy. "Really? You truly mean it?" She blinked but then only silently watched her servant in awe, of her appearance and stature.

Archer nodded, "I believe I was summoned to you so we both can obtain what we desire. I believe I can achieve the grail for you and I."
Her silvery hair seemed to illuminate the room as it caught the moon's light when she turned her head towards her master.

Reen spoke up once more, "The Grail is the only hope I believe I have to grant such a wish. Don't worry. I will not hesitate to fight by your side in the coming war. This is all just very new to me...including mage craft. The means I have used to prepare for this war have only been about a year in a half. Things have been rather rocky to say the very least." She lowered, her head, but then whipped it back up to give her servant a confidant smile.

"Yes, and in the end. We will be the ones who prove ourselves as the true wielders of the Grail. The omnipotent wish granting device will bring us great things. I know it will."

Archer nodded slowly.
"Indeed. It is good to know my master shall not be a coward and hide while only I fight our battles."

She put her hand on her chin and rubbed it thoughtfully. "Your inexperience may prove to be a disadvantage against more experienced mages unless you have a hidden trick up your sleeve that they do not." She paused with a knowing glint in her eye. Then returned her challenging smile.

Reen shrugged. "Well, I suppose...I suppose it does come with some disadvantages. I might be able to call it a certain advantage. Our magic's involved specializing with, insects you see...I-I wanted to abandoned this twisted sick magic that disgraced the Matou family and made them weak, in their arts, and in their minds and values. However, I am not sure what I have manifested. The darkness, I can't say if it is a  gift or a curse yet..." She said glancing at her command seals. Then shrugged it off. "It hasn't got to me yet though right? Heh. That has to bear some fruits of its own."

Archer nodded in understanding.
"Reen, have you heard the legend and myths about the constellation," she paused and almost spat out the word constellation, "known as Orion?"