The afternoon she decided to sit down and read seemed peaceful, but Rin Tohsaka had never been so frustrated in her life.
In front of her were at least a dozen magical documents, ancient grimoires, and treaties she had temporarily obtained with permission from Sona Shitori. All were magical compilations about the supernatural world, but despite their seemingly vast content, very little information was truly useful for what Rin was seeking.
The Devils.
—It can't be —she murmured as she turned the page of another text that cited the Bible as its primary source.
"Dark beings, fallen from heaven for rebelling against their god, kings of lies and temptation..."
All that was part of the religious dogma Rin had studied superficially in her general education. However, none of it matched what she had seen so far. The Sona who had received her was calculating, serene, powerful... but also polite, patient, and—she reluctantly admitted—diplomatic. It wasn't what the Bible described in the slightest.
Rin sighed wearily and leaned back in her chair. Beside her, Archer, arms crossed, leaned against the wall, watching her with his eternal half-smile.
—Have you ever had contact with this species? —she asked him, turning slightly to look directly at him.
Archer shook his head.
—Never. And if they ever existed in my timeline, they didn't reveal themselves as they have now. My experience was limited to mages, heroes... and other monsters.
—Great —she grumbled—. Not even you can give me clues.
They were trapped in ignorance. They couldn't advance clearly if they didn't understand who they were dealing with. They knew the devils weren't human, that there was a power hierarchy, that Sona had enough authority to govern parts of the city... but everything else was a mystery.
In a last attempt, Rin searched her luggage for a book she hadn't touched since arriving: the "Ars Goetia," an ancient text her family kept sealed in their library. It was a rare copy, with commentaries written by her great-grandfather and marginal notes from various descendants.
—Back to basics? —Archer asked with an amused tone.
—I have no other options —Rin replied seriously, opening the book carefully.
Page after page, ancient names appeared: Bael, Agares, Marbas, Paimon... and many more. Vague descriptions of noble demons, royal houses of hell, pacts, contracts... and hierarchical structures that dangerously resembled the system of magical nobility.
Rin frowned.
—Here it is... "Leviathan, one of the four great kings of hell, lord of the depths and of judgment upon traitors."
—Leviathan? Wasn't that the name of the Maou who interrogated you? —Archer interjected, now more interested.
—Yes... Serafall Leviathan, that's how she introduced herself.
An uncomfortable sensation ran through Rin.
—This isn't just coincidence. This "Ars Goetia" could be a primitive, incomplete, or perhaps... distorted version of what they really are today. It may be that ancient mages had a distorted idea of devils, or that the devils themselves have changed over time.
—Or that, simply, they wrote what was convenient to scare people —added Archer, shrugging.
Rin stared at the book with a furrowed brow. She couldn't trust the Bible, nor human treaties... and now the "Ars Goetia" offered more questions than answers. However, one thing was clear: she was in the middle of a conflict between forces larger than she ever imagined. And she had no intention of falling behind.
—If we're going to survive this, Archer... we need to understand our allies. And our enemies.
—I'm with you —he replied—. But I have a feeling they won't be long in coming for us for something bigger.
And Rin knew it too.
It was only a matter of time.
Rin Tohsaka closed the Ars Goetia with a soft thud. Frustration remained on her face, though now accompanied by a hint of resolve. If she couldn't trust ancient records, she only had one option left: talk to someone who lived firsthand in that world.
—Let's go to Daniel —she said firmly, taking her coat and looking at Archer, who watched her with crossed arms.
—That desperate for answers?
—Not desperate... informed. He already lives in this world, he's surrounded by non-human beings, and he collaborates with the leaders of this city. If there's anyone who can tell us something real, it's him.
Archer nodded and, without another word, they both left the place heading for Daniel's residence. The day was calm, but the tension in the air didn't go unnoticed by either of them. Rin wondered if Daniel would agree to share what he knew... and more importantly, if she could really trust him.
As Rin and Archer walked through the streets of Kuoh, in another part of the city, far from the students' radar, a thunderous sound cut through the air like lightning. Two figures clashed in the middle of an abandoned construction site, their weapons gleaming with magical energy.
Saber, with her sword wrapped in a golden mist, kept her guard high. Facing her, Lancer, swift as a blue lightning bolt, twirled his spear with lethal skill.
—Can we talk before killing each other? —asked Saber, her tone neutral, attempting the peaceful route.
But from a distance, the voice of Lancer's Master resonated with disdain:
—Don't trust that witch! Finish her now, Lancer!
Lancer hesitated for just an instant, but then lunged into the attack.
The battle began in earnest.
Clashes of steel echoed in the empty building, its walls beginning to give way under the power of each blow. Saber, elegant but firm, moved like a veteran of a thousand wars; Lancer, agile and brutal, left no room for error.
They were so evenly matched it seemed the fight would last for hours.
But no one knew. No one but them, and fate, watched that duel in silence.
Night fell softly over Kuoh, enveloping the city in a veil of deceptive calm. Inside Daniel's house, the atmosphere was warm and peaceful, a total contrast to the chaos brewing in other corners of the world.
Sakura, still exhausted by the emotional torrent that had swept through her, had retired to her room with a timid smile and reddened eyes. The other girls—Hikari, Hibiki, Alya, and Tamamo—were in the living room, chatting relaxedly, while Daniel shared a moment of respite with them. Despite the multiple responsibilities weighing on his shoulders, he allowed himself this small moment of peace.
That's when the doorbell rang.
Tamamo, ever vigilant from her spiritual form, appeared beside Daniel with a serious expression.
—My love, we have visitors. It's Tohsaka Rin and her Servant, Archer. Again —she said in her melodious tone, though clearly about to activate her jealous mode.
Daniel stood up calmly and went to the door. Opening it, he found Rin, her expression serious but slightly less tense than the first time, and Archer behind her, arms crossed with his typical evaluative gaze.
—Is it a good time to talk? —Rin asked, without preamble.
—Yes, come in. Please —Daniel replied hospitably, stepping aside to let them enter.
Reynare, who was watching from the hallway, sighed in resignation and went to prepare the table so the conversation could take place comfortably. Though she feigned indifference, she threw furtive glances every time Rin got too close to Daniel.
Once everyone was seated, with teacups already served by Reynare—who stayed nearby as if monitoring every gesture of the blue-eyed mage—Rin got straight to the point:
—I want to know about the Devils. What exactly are they, what is their purpose... how did you meet them. And, most importantly: can you negotiate with them?
Daniel observed her for a few seconds, gauging her tone, her gestures, her aura. He detected no hostility, only anxiety disguised as coolness. He nodded gently.
—They are real. Yes, they are the same ones that appear in the Ars Goetia... in name, at least. But they are not as the scriptures portray them. Not all are evil, nor do they seek souls in exchange for pacts —he explained firmly—. Most are... more human than devil, so to speak. They have governments, laws, families. They are no different from us beyond their powers and longevity.
Rin seemed to listen to every word with a mix of skepticism and relief. Archer, for his part, remained silent but didn't stop observing every reaction.
—And are they open to negotiations? —Rin asked again, lowering her voice slightly.
—Yes. In fact, you're already in a favorable position —Daniel replied—. The fact that you agreed to work with me and are now cooperating with Sona has opened many doors for you. If you play your cards right, you could come out of this in better shape than you think.
Rin looked at him, blinking a couple of times, genuinely confused.
—Better shape?
Daniel smiled slightly.
—You know your organization didn't inform you of the changes. They threw you into this ritual without giving you the complete data... perhaps as a way to remove you from the political game. But now you're on the side of those who govern this region and have shown interest in protecting this territory. If you demonstrate a willingness to cooperate, there's a lot you could gain.
Rin narrowed her eyes, her mind clearly processing those possibilities. She leaned back against the chair, sighing with a hint of resignation.
—Then... I'll trust you for now. But if this goes wrong, I'll make sure you know.
Daniel chuckled softly.
—Just what a Tohsaka would say.
Tamamo, sitting beside him in physical form, huffed quietly while puffing out her cheeks. Reynare continued watching from the kitchen, tightening the cup she was cleaning a bit. Alya crossed her arms with a raised eyebrow.
—Another one falls for you, Daniel?
Daniel just sighed. The Holy Grail War could wait a little... for now, the most dangerous thing was his own house.
Night enveloped Kuoh with its usual tranquility, but in a secluded area, where trees served as natural walls and streetlights were absent, a battle was being fought in silence... broken only by the clash of metal and the whistle of cut wind.
Saber—Sengo Muramasa—stood firm, his katana partially sheathed, his gray eyes fixed on his opponent. Before him, a tall, muscular Lancer in light armor, wielding a crimson spear, breathed with difficulty. The field around them already bore scars: split trees, torn earth, and shattered rocks from the fury of the contest.
The fight had been long, and more than an exchange of refined styles, it was a war of attrition. Lancer didn't show impeccable technique, but he had an animal instinct for resisting, dodging, and counterattacking. Every time it seemed Muramasa had the advantage, the spearman found a way to slip away or graze him with the tip of his weapon.
But Muramasa... didn't seem human. Not in combat.
Although known as a legendary blacksmith, his movements were too precise, as if his arms remembered every fight his swords had witnessed. Each deflection, each slash, each step was the result of an experience that didn't match his original legend. His gaze was empty, focused only on efficiency. An artist of the cut.
Lancer attempted a final charge, his spear wrapped in magical energy, aimed straight at Muramasa's heart.
—Die, damn blacksmith...!
Muramasa whispered something unintelligible, a prayer perhaps... and drew.
An invisible line crossed the field.
A second later, Lancer stopped. His weapon fell from his hands, split. His body trembled... and then collapsed, cleanly sliced from shoulder to hip.
Muramasa exhaled slowly and sheathed his sword.
—There is no victory in the edge that cuts only out of necessity... —he murmured with an unfathomable sadness.
Lancer's corpse began to disintegrate, golden particles rising into the sky.
But deep underground, far from sight, the disappearance of a Servant triggered a reaction. The system had activated. A dark pulse was released through the spiritual network woven in the shadows.
A mist rose in the heart of Kuoh. The Grail... was awakening.
And with it, the seed of a primordial evil.
In a dimension that shouldn't exist, a shapeless figure began to stir. Faceless, soulless, but full of hatred and suffering... Angra Mainyu, the concept of all that is cursed, smiled in its incomplete prison.
—One less... Not much longer...
And at that instant, the war changed.