Fate ⁄ Zero - Volume 01 - Act 1.pdf - Fate⁄Zero - RX-0

Act 1

-285:42:56

Nobody has ever understood Waver Velvet's talent.

As a magus, he was neither born of a famous family nor lucky enough to meet a good master.

This youth was mostly self-taught, and was finally fortunate enough to have the Magus

Association, which controls magi across the world, accept him into its headquarters, the teaching

institution in London commonly known as the "Clock Tower". Waver always believed this cause

to be incomparably honorable, he deeply believed this without doubt, and was also very proud of

his own talent. Only I am the most capable student of the Clock Tower since its founding, anyone

would have to respect me , at least Waver himself thought this way.

In truth the magus lineage of the Velvets has only existed for three generations. Compared to the

offspring of well-established magi family, Waver's Crest concentration and Magic Circuit

quantity pales by comparison, but as time goes on, the number of Magic Circuits and

concentration of Crests are also constantly increasing and expanding. Many students that

received scholarships in the Clock Tower were offsprings of families having more than six

generations of pure magi blood.

The wonders of magecraft cannot be completed within one generation, the results of a whole life

of research by parents are passed on to their children, only through this can magecraft be

expected to become more and more refined. The Prana of those with a longer magus lineage

being stronger is precisely because of this reason.

Furthermore, although magi's Magic Circuit quantity are already determined at birth, there are

some ancestral magi families that deliberately contrive to increase the amount of Magic Circuits

in an offspring, therefore distancing themselves from new magi families in this regard. In other

words, advantages within the world of magecraft are predetermined even before birth... This is a

commonly accepted point of view.

But Waver does not see it that way.

Differences in ancestry can be made up for by increasing experience. Even without exceptional

Magic Circuits, through deep understanding, and skilled utilization of magecraft the difference

between quality caused by birth can be bridged. Waver has always deeply believed that. He

believed himself to be an excellent example of that, and thus always strived to show off his

abilities.

But, the reality is too cruel. Those students who boast about their ancestral bloodline, and those

who endlessly pursue and flatter them; only those people are the mainstream of the Clock Tower,

and the workings of the Clock Tower are determined by these guys. Even the lecturers are no

exception. Only expectant of students from famous lineages, and to a "pauper" researcher like

Waver, they are even reluctant to let him into the library to browse books, let alone teach him

magecraft.

Why are expectations of a magus's future dependent on his lineage?

Why is the credibility of a theory dependent on the experience of one's lineage?

Nobody cared about Waver's questions. The lecturers use flowery language to trick Waver when

presented with his research thesis, then act as if Waver's been convinced otherwise, laughing at it,

ignoring it.

It truly is unbelievable. His anxiety drove Waver to take action.

To expose the Magus Association's corrupt system, Waver wrote an exposition. It was titled

"Inquiry of Magecraft's Path In the New Century", the result of three years of conceptualization

and one year of writing. Viciously attacking the traditional views, the exposition was written

with painstaking effort shows clear and intense thoughts, without a single flaw. If seen by the

Inquisitors, it would definitely cause a high magnitude of unrest.

But - The Department of Eulyphis's lecturer tossed it out after casually reading through it just

once.

His name is Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald. He is the heir of the Archibald family with nine

generations of magus lineage, a very popular man everyone calls Lord El-Melloi. Engaged to the

daughter of the principal; a lecturer at such a young age, he is the best of the best. He is also the

representative of authority that Waver despises.

"A man who gives in to delusions such as you is not suited to research, Waver" - lecturer

Kayneth said in a condescending manner, without a shred of pity in his voice. Kayneth's ice cold

gaze is something Waver will never forget.

In the nineteen years of Waver's life, he has never been humiliated worse.

If he has the talent to be a lecturer, it was impossible for him to be unable to comprehend why

Waver's exposition was exceptional. No, that man is probably jealous precisely because he

understands. Afraid of Waver's hidden talent, thus becoming jealous of him, treating Waver as a

threat to his own position. That is probably why he treated Waver's exposition in such a violent

manner. To purposely rip an exposition of gathered wisdom, is this the attitude a scholar should

assume?

Unforgivable. His talent which can cause the world to tremble is actually arbitrarily written off

by an authority; there really is no justice. But not one person sympathized with Waver's

frustration. The Magus Association is actually - using Waver's point of view - already corrupt to

the core.

But... while living these infinitely frustrating days, Waver heard a rumor.

The rumor is that the reputed Lord El-Melloi, for the sake of adding an entry to his resume which

grants him vanity, has decided to join the nearby thaumaturgical competition in the far east

region.

Waver began researching about the details of this 'Heaven's Feel' overnight, and was deeply

mesmerized by the horrific details.

With the wish-granting "Holy Grail" that has hidden a huge amount of prana as the stake,

summoning Heroic Spirits into the present world, and commanding them as familiars, initiating a

death match.

Title, authority, everything loses its value; it relies purely on real skill.

It truly is a bit barbaric, but it's a simple yet fair method of judging superiority. For an

unrecognized genius this is an excellent opportunity, an idealistic stage to exhibit himself.

Lady Luck has finally smiled at the excited Waver.

It began with the financial department's negligence. Lecturer Kayneth's requested holy relic from

Macedonia... was delivered to the student Waver to give to his teacher along with normal parcels,

whereas it should have been a parcel opened only when Kayneth himself was present.

Waver immediately realized that was a catalyst used to summon Servants in the Heaven's Feel.

And so, he received a once in a lifetime opportunity.

He no longer has a shred of love left for the corrupt Clock Tower. The glory of graduating as a

valedictorian is trash compared to the honor brought by Fuyuki's Holy Grail. The moment Waver

Velvet is victorious in the war, is the moment when those insignificant members of the Magus

Association will grovel at his feet.

From that day on Waver left England, heading for the island country in the far east. The Clock

Tower immediately realized who stole Kayneth's parcel, but did not chase after him. Nobody

knew Waver was interested in the Heaven's Feel.

But there was something Waver didn't know. Everyone thought, as far as Waver Velvet's ability

was concerned, he did no more than hide Kayneth's relic in rage. Nobody thought that he was on

a level to actually knowingly risk his life to participate in a thaumaturgical competition. In this

aspect, the Clock Tower really has underestimated Waver.

In the far east village, at the place that decides his destiny - Fuyuki City, Waver is currently

hiding under the blanket of his bed, trying desperately to hold back his repeated laughter. No, it

is impossible to hold it back. Illuminated by the dim sunlight coming through the cracks of the

curtain, he raised his right hand every few seconds, letting out some muffled laughter.

With the relic in his hands, himself in Fuyuki, and enough quality as a magus... How can the

Grail turn a blind eye to someone like that? Indeed, the pattern of the three fold Command Seals

has clearly materialized on Waver's right hand last night, the proof of a Master who can summon

a Servant. Even the ruckus made by the roosters in the courtyard nearing the time of dawn went

unnoticed.

"Waver, breakfast time."

The voice of the old woman calling him on the stairs sounds different from normal this morning,

seems like it's not all that annoying.

To safely begin this commemorable day, Waver quickly began changing.

Although a backwater place for an island nationality, this Fuyuki City place has a lot of tourists

from other places. And precisely because of that, Waver's appearance, obviously different from

that of a Japanese, did not attract too much attention. Even so Waver was cautious and still cast a

spell on the old couple who have always lived alone, hinting to deceive them into thinking

Waver was their grandson who has returned from studying abroad. He has very successfully used

a fake identity to live comfortably here. Also he doesn't need to pay hotel fees, it's like killing

two birds with one stone, things worked out perfectly and Waver began to have more and more

admiration for his own ability to adapt.

To fully enjoy this mild morning, Waver descended the stairs to the first floor kitchen and dining

room while purposefully filtering the rooster crows from his perception. Like any other morning,

the plebian dining room table decorated with newspapers, the television news and cooking

welcomed the freeloader openly.

"Good morning, Waver, did you sleep well?"

"Yes, grandpa. I was sound asleep until morning."

Waver answered with a smile while he spread jam thickly on his toast. The soggy bread that

costs only a hundred and eighty yen per catty wasn't very pleasant to chew. Usually this is very

unsatisfactory, so it can only be made up for by putting lots of jam on it.

Glen and Martha Mackenzie immigrated to Japan from Canada more than twenty years ago. But

their son who could not get used to the Japanese lifestyle went back, creating a family in his

home country. The grandson that was raised in Japan up until ten years of age also went back.

Not a single letter was sent, let alone visiting. Ten years passed in this manner - the above

information was obtained by Waver from the old couple by means of hypnosis. This kind of

family was ideal for Waver. Through hints, Waver transformed the old couple's impression of

their grandson into his own image, successfully becoming their beloved grandson "Waver

Mackenzie."

"But, Martha, ever since dawn I felt that the chickens were very noisy, would you know why this

is?"

"We have three chickens. Where exactly did they come from...?"

Hastily making up an excuse, Waver hurriedly swallowed the bread in his mouth.

"Ah, that... I have a friend who sent his pet chickens for us to take care of for a few days. He's

going on a trip and won't be home, so they'll be here temporarily. I'm returning them this

evening."

"Ah, so that's how it is."

It seems like they don't really mind, so the two easily believed it. The fact that these two old

people are have some hearing loss can be said to be a good thing. The incessant crows of the

three chickens nearly annoyed the surrounding neighbors to death that day.

But the most stressed person was Waver. As soon as he found the Command Seals on his hand,

Waver excitedly began preparing sacrificial offerings needed for the ceremony.

Fate ⁄ Zero - Volume 01 - Act 1.pdf

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