Ancient Britain, in the history of the Type-Moon world, is steeped in mystical allure.
King Arthur, the Knights of the Round Table, the Lady of the Lake, even the court mage... and the legendary magical dragon.
To ordinary people, these might just be tales to listen to and forget... but for magi, especially those planning to participate in the Holy Grail War, ancient Britain was of utmost importance.
To summon a specific Servant, one needed an item tied to that Servant's life.
For example, during the Fourth Holy Grail War, the holy relic Waver stole from Kayneth was a fragment of Iskandar's cloak.
Or, in Manaka Sajyou's case, the holy relic she used for summoning was the "dragon scale" Alvin had personally given her.
After the Fuyuki Greater Grail system was exposed, magi from the outside world began to stir, obsessed with the Grail's wish-granting power.
One key to winning the Holy Grail War was summoning a powerful Servant with whom the Master shared good compatibility.
Undoubtedly, Saber from the last war was one such Servant.
"The White Dragon... Alvin?"
Hearing Tokiomi's words, young Rin froze.
She had certainly heard the name before—how could she not, when her sister had been fixated on this very Servant?
Her father wanted her to participate in the next Holy Grail War, and now he was planning to secure the White Dragon's holy relic for her...?
Rin quickly reacted, asking instinctively: "Do you know where the White Dragon's holy relic is buried?"
Tokiomi shook his head slowly: "Ancient Britain was a nation at the end of the Age of Gods, steeped in myth. Many stories and details from that era are unverifiable. Finding the exact burial place of the White Dragon's holy relic... it's not realistic."
"Then what's your plan...?"
Rin asked tentatively.
"And it doesn't necessarily have to be the White Dragon... There are other powerful Servants in the world, aren't there?"
The girl added.
Tokiomi shook his head again: "I've considered this. Among the Servants I know of, there are indeed some comparable to the White Dragon, but we currently have no leads on their holy relics, and there's also the risk of a Servant disobeying their Master."
Tokiomi had firsthand experience in this regard.
During the last Holy Grail War, he had served almost as a subordinate to Gilgamesh, and the Hero King's capricious actions had disrupted his plans multiple times.
In the end, Gilgamesh's defeat was less about strength and more about his own arrogance.
Tokiomi pondered for a moment before continuing to speak.
"But you're right, there are other Servants to choose from besides the White Dragon.
The Knights of the Round Table, or perhaps that court mage, could be good options."
Unfortunately, while the Knights of the Round Table were viable, they weren't the White Dragon....and according to legend, the court mage of Britain never died, so he likely wasn't eligible for summoning in the Holy Grail War.
"You don't like the White Dragon?"
Tokiomi suddenly asked.
After all, from what he knew of his daughter, Rin wouldn't defy him unless she truly disliked something.
Yet, judging by her reaction, she seemed... reluctant about summoning the White Dragon?
The young girl quickly waved her hands. "You misunderstood, Father. I was just curious. You can decide how to proceed."
"...I'm just worried you might encounter danger."
Hearing this, Tokiomi nodded in satisfaction and said. "This is adult business. You don't need to worry so much. Once this transmigration begins, I'll find a way to visit Camelot's royal palace and attempt to negotiate with the White Dragon."
Seeing Rin nod obediently, Tokiomi stood and left the hall.
The girl silently watched her father's retreating figure, letting out a soft breath after a long pause, her eyes tinged with faint worry.
Tokiomi didn't know that Sakura also harbored ambitions of participating in the Holy Grail War, with the White Dragon as her desired Servant...
If one day in the future, her sister saw the White Dragon's holy relic in her hands, how would she feel?
Though young, Rin always believed an elder sister should act like one... At the very least, she should fulfill her duties as a sister in front of Sakura and make up for what their father owed her.
But thinking too much about it now was pointless.
After all, it wasn't even certain whether her father could obtain the White Dragon's holy relic.
With this thought, Rin's anxious heart slowly settled.
...
Clock Tower.
The two o'clock afternoon sunlight streamed through the glass window. Alvin sat by the windowsill, holding a cup of tea, with a few cookies placed nearby.
The Clock Tower was unusually quiet today. Normally, students would pass by at this hour, but today, everyone seemed to be in their rooms, as if waiting for something.
Tick, tock...
Alvin watched the clock's hands move forward, silently counting down in his mind.
The transmigration countdown in his vision now showed only "10" seconds remaining.
Ten seconds from now, he would return to ancient Britain.
In those final ten seconds, he stuffed the remaining cookies into his mouth and drained his tea.
Setting the cup down, he sat on the edge of the bed.
With a faint beep, a white light seemed to engulf him, and the next moment, Alvin's figure vanished from the dorm.
...
It was a profoundly comforting, warm sensation.
Faintly, he could smell a sweet, milky fragrance.
As the gentle sunlight poured down, Alvin slowly opened his eyes in a certain room.
"Aaa?"
A soft, melodious voice reached his ears.
Alvin focused and saw a pair of eyes curiously staring at him.
They were a striking crimson, pure and untainted, sparkling like stars, radiant and captivating.
The woman's attire... if it could even be called that, was merely two strips of fabric formed from the "Sea of Life," barely covering her proud and upright chest, making the woman's plump, beautiful and sexy figure particularly attractive.
Her gentle face radiated maternal warmth, flawless in every way, lacking the innocence of a young girl but brimming with the mature charm of a woman.
Alvin glanced at this creation goddess, whose beauty could overshadow all others, then looked around, murmuring to himself. "Looks like I'm really back, huh?"
No doubt about it—this was no longer the Clock Tower in London but the royal palace of ancient Britain.
To be precise, it was the guest room where Tiamat was currently resting.
"Aaaa (Are you okay?)"
The woman's gentle voice sounded again.
Alvin reined in his thoughts, hesitating: "What do you mean?"
"Aaa (The Holy Grail War)."
Tiamat said.
Alvin's heart skipped a beat, and he instinctively asked. "You have memories from the Holy Grail War?"
Normally, a heroic spirit wouldn't retain all memories of their life, and similarly, after the Holy Grail War ended and the spirit departed, they wouldn't necessarily remember the events of the war.
Not to mention, the Noble Phantasm he used wasn't even a proper avatar of Tiamat...
Yet she still retained those memories?
Then again, it wasn't that surprising.
After all, she was Tiamat.
"As expected of you..."
Alvin couldn't help but sigh in admiration.
Tiamat proudly let out an "Aaa," nodding as if it were only natural, her pure, flawless face and tiny tiger teeth adding an inexplicable cuteness.
But her ample chest, straining against the fabric, somehow blended that cuteness with an undeniable allure.
'Tiamat might just be the first woman I've met who perfectly combines "cute" and "sexy"...' Alvin thought to himself. Under her curious, knowledge-hungry gaze, he briefly recounted the events of the recent Holy Grail War.
Ishtar destroyed the Greater Grail, and afterward, the shattered Grail was restored in some unknown way...
By the end, Tiamat wore a thoughtful expression.
"Mother, what are you thinking?"
Alvin asked instinctively.
"Aaaaa (The black mud, there might still be some of it inside the Greater Grail.)"
Tiamat said.
No one understood the "black mud" better than Tiamat, after all, her Sea of Life was essentially another form of it.
Alvin froze, then said instinctively: "You mean... the black mud repaired the Greater Grail itself?"
"But Manaka should have completely purified the Greater Grail at the time..."
Did Manaka underestimate the Grail's power?
Or was she too careless?
If that's the case, I need to look into the details...
Alvin didn't see himself as a savior and had no interest in saving the world... but in the dangerous world of Type-Moon, he at least wanted to protect a safe haven for those around him.
And in Fuyuki, there were people he wanted to protect.
At the very least, he hoped Sakura Matou and others could grow up in a normal environment.
Alvin reined in his thoughts and looked at Tiamat, asking instinctively. "By the way, how did your body return to its original form?"
He remembered that before his transmigration, Tiamat was in her lo.. form to conserve magical energy.
But now she was back in her mature form... Was she no longer worried about magical energy consumption?
As if reading his thoughts, Tiamat took out a piece of paper and wrote. "There's been a lot of activity in and out of the palace lately. In this state, I can help you."
Help me...?
Alvin was slightly stunned, as if he had not yet understood what Tiamat said.
But after a moment, he seemed to vaguely remember something.
Ever since the arrival of Arcueid, Britain has experienced a huge shock.
Though the situation had stabilized, who knew if other unique transmigrators might also appear in Britain this time, given that even Tiamat could cross over?
Tiamat maintaining her true form meant any magus nearby would sense her immense magical energy... which would act as a natural deterrent.
With the White Dragon's power, Alvin wasn't afraid of even the strongest enemies, but Tiamat's gesture still touched him.
"Thank you..."
Alvin said.
"No need to thank me. You brought me out of that place and showed me so much of this world, so I want to help you."
Tiamat wrote on the paper. "It's a pity I couldn't help you much during the Holy Grail War."
Alvin froze, then gently took her hand, saying softly. "You've already helped me a lot."
Tiamat, summoned as a Noble Phantasm, wasn't as powerful as her current spiritual form, but her overwhelming suppression of Uruk's native heroic spirits was why even Gilgamesh had been somewhat "afraid" of her.
But speaking of which... What exactly happened on the final night of the Fourth Holy Grail War?
Since the Greater Grail was destroyed prematurely, even the strongest Servants couldn't persist after its destruction, including Alvin.
Thus, he had no idea what happened that night at the summit of Mount Enzou.
Did Manaka know?
Though even if he asked, she might not answer... Not to mention, after that night...he and Manaka were currently in a cold war.
At this thought, Alvin sighed inwardly.
Just then, footsteps sounded outside the door.
Palace guards... Alvin said gravely: "What is it?"
"Lord Alvin... There's someone outside the palace who wants to see you. They say it's about something important."
Talk to me?
Alvin's heart stirred with curiosity.
In present-day Britain, he could count his friends on one hand... and as for outside the palace, he didn't think he had any friends there.
Who could it be...?
"Do you know their name?"
Alvin asked.
"No... but judging by their attire, they don't seem like an ordinary commoner."
Alvin pondered for a moment before saying. "Bring them to the reception hall and have them wait for me. I'll be there shortly."
Though he didn't know who it was, since they specifically asked for him, it might be someone he knew.
After the guard left, Alvin chatted briefly with Tiamat.
Under her reluctant gaze, he left the room and headed to the palace's reception hall.
In the hall, a man in a suit, exuding refined elegance, sat on a white jade chair.
Though his demeanor was composed, the tension in his furrowed brows was unmistakable.
When Alvin entered and saw who it was, a meaningful expression crossed his face.
"...Tokiomi Tohsaka?"
.
.
.