Picole was a newly admitted student at the Imperial Mage Academy and the eldest son of a noble family in the capital. As the only one in his generation with magical talent, he was nearly guaranteed to inherit the family title. However, he had different aspirations. Picole dreamed of becoming a powerful mage who could leave his mark on history. To him, merely graduating from the academy with average grades and returning to inherit his family's estate wasn't enough.
Picole's ultimate goal was to join the Imperial Mage Tower and become an officially recognized Imperial Mage. He knew this path was nearly impossible for most academy graduates, but he was determined to take his chances. Still, if he failed, inheriting the family estate was an acceptable fallback.
He often pondered why life always demanded such difficult choices.
On the evening of his first day at the academy, having resolved to dedicate himself to his magical studies, his plans were suddenly disrupted.
"Picole, let's go to the plaza to watch a movie!"
Picole's roommate, Dillon, burst into the dormitory and, without giving him a chance to respond, dragged him out. Outside, other new students were also gathering and heading toward the main plaza.
"A movie? What's that?" Picole asked, baffled.
Having been entirely focused on becoming a mage, Picole had ignored the posters and announcements about the event. He had no idea what a "movie" was.
"You'll see when we get there," Dillon replied, not giving him any more time to protest. Soon, they arrived at the bustling plaza, where an enormous crowd had gathered.
"The last time I saw so many people was at the Empire's founding celebration..." Picole muttered in awe.
The newcomers from outside the capital were particularly astonished, while students from the capital were more composed, though equally curious. Large viewing platforms and seats had been set up, surprising even the senior students who had returned early. None of this had been here before their last break.
The atmosphere was orderly, thanks to staff from the Nosrick Cinema who guided the students to their seats and distributed viewing booklets. Picole flipped through the booklet with a mix of curiosity and skepticism.
"Does this thing called a movie serve any purpose?" he asked, unsure.
"Not sure," Dillon admitted with a laugh. "I just came because everyone else was going."
"Tch, what a waste of time," Picole muttered, turning to leave. But just as he was about to step away, the massive screen lit up.
The glowing screen captured everyone's attention, whether they had been eager to see "Fate/Zero" or had simply been swept up in the crowd. The seamless projection without any visible medium left everyone in awe.
"What kind of magic is this?" Picole, a budding mage, couldn't contain his curiosity and sat back down. As the movie began, Dillon explained, "According to the booklet, this is a story acted out by performers."
"A stage play, then?"
"Uh... sort of," Dillon replied hesitantly.
Picole frowned.
As a noble, he was no stranger to stage plays and found them utterly dull, suitable only for middle-aged aristocrats. He was ready to dismiss the film, but as the story unfolded, he was unexpectedly intrigued.
By the time the movie delved into the Holy Grail War, Picole and many other aspiring mages found themselves captivated.
The film's depiction of mages, the mysterious "Holy Grail War," and the intricate magical world drew them in completely.
For the young mages, "Fate/Zero" resonated on a level far deeper than it did with ordinary audiences.
Among the crowd, discussions buzzed:
"The Holy Grail War seems like a grand summoning ritual. Is it even possible for such vast magical power to remain conserved?"
"It's a miracle, after all. Miracles don't follow ordinary rules."
"But the story feels so grounded. Why would the key premise—the Holy Grail War—have such a glaring flaw?"
"Keep watching! Also, I can't believe that old worm-like man dared to do that to such a little girl. It's infuriating!"
"That kind of cruelty exists in real life too. Didn't the previous administrator advocate for turning mages into undead for an eternal magic empire? He was judged for his actions, but many were sacrificed in the process."
"Let's focus on the movie. By the way, is the clock tower set in our academy? It looks familiar."
"I think the grand library is inside the Imperial Mage Tower. I've been there once during duty."
"Really? I want to visit too!"
"You'll need the qualifications first!"
Discussions like these underscored the film's success.
While its slow-paced opening might alienate ordinary viewers, it deeply resonated with the logical minds of mages and aspiring mages.
This was exactly what Edward, the film's creator, had hoped for.
By immersing mages in the detailed lore of "Fate/Zero," he aimed to spark interest in alchemy and magical studies.
And as the story progressed, more and more viewers—new students, senior students, and even veteran mages—found themselves completely absorbed in this groundbreaking depiction of a magical world.
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