A luxurious white manor surrounded by a green flower garden and solid reinforced concrete walls; passers-by stopped occasionally to observe the steel gate on which two lion heads were depicted. The villa, so distant from the rest of Rome, was the headquarters of an organization of Italian magi known as the Coven.
In a large ceremonial hall, which resembled a church, decorated with stained glass windows and with stone columns on which angels and armed devils had been sculpted, Grand Master Giovanni Monteverdi X stood, standing like a soldier with his hands behind his back, silently observing the statue of a lion resting his paw on a depiction of the world and holding a dead snake in its jaws.
A wooden door opened behind him. The Grand Master turned and saw the young Alessandro Serpi enter, who from the agitation put in place the black tunic on which was depicted the emblem of the lion with the snake between the fauces which was the symbol of the Coven. It was customary for members of the organization to wear tunics: the disciples wore them in black, the elders in red, while the Grand Master had a white robe. Alessandro had brown hair, dampened by sweat, and his blue eyes observed, intimidated Giovanni Monteverdi X's cold expression. The door closed. Alessandro bent over one knee and exclaimed:
« Beatus Leonis! » That was the greeting that the members of the Coven had to do in the presence of the Grand Master.
Giovanni, with a calm movement, touched Alessandro's head and responded to the greeting as a custom:
« Benedictus Sis. » Alessandro rose from the ground and asked, intimidated by the presence of the Grand Master:
« Have you asked about me, Grand Master Giovanni Monteverdi X? »
« Exactly. I need your help for a very important mission, disciple. »
« What is it? »
« Alessandro Serpi, you are one of the best disciples of the Coven. Are you aware of this? »
« I'm not that good. » He replied modestly.« Instead you are. You achieved excellent results during the magic tests and you proved to be a loyal, serious and courageous disciple. These are virtues that honor you. One of the elders, whom you will surely know, told me how you managed to find a spy who had infiltrated our organization. »
« No, it was just a stroke of luck. »
« Davide Ponti does not think so, disciple. He believes you have potential. And I'm convinced of that too. »
« Why do you tell me these things? » Alessandro asked, worried.
« Do you know Yggdrasil? »
« The tree of Norse mythology? »
« Exactly. It is said that this ash supports the nine worlds born from the sacrifice of the giant Ymir. It is said of this tree that it is also a link between the world of mortals and that of the immortals. The legends about Yggdrasil are different but almost all take for granted that it is what connects all the worlds and supports them. Without it the Void would triumph over all existence. »
« So? »
« We have come to know of a study conducted by a French magus, Dorian Benard, who claims to have discovered the True Holy Grail. »Alessandro was completely taken aback by those last words. His body was crossed by a rush of chills that made him tremble as in a winter day.
The Grand Master, understanding the reaction of the disciple, offered to sit down and the latter immediately accepted. The word "Grail" was associated with war, destruction and continuous struggle for a desire. Alessandro Serpi knew only of several wars that had taken place in Fuyuki but from what he knew the Holy Grail had been dismantled. He thought, foolishly, that never again would he talk about that machine that makes wishes come true.
Grand Master Giovanni Monteverdi X continued his explanation:
« According to Dorian the True Holy Grail would be linked to the legend of Yggdrasil. He came to the conclusion that the True Holy Grail could not have the blood of Jesus Christ since there is no evidence to support the theory that there is a sacred chalice with the blood of Christ. »
« But the Church says the opposite. He's a heretic. » Commented Alessandro.
« Right. I know he is wrong. What he claims to have found may not be the True Holy Grail, however ...»
Then poor Alessandro lost his breath. He saw the flaming look of the Grand Master, the look of a man who was ready to go to war.
Giovanni concluded:
« However this does not mean that the replica of the Holy Grail cannot be valid as the True Holy Grail. The Holy Grail that he claims to have found should, in his words, be able to guarantee more desires to the same person. »
« Why? »« Because the blood of this Grail is not that of the Son of God but of a God. It is the blood of Odin, the Norse God who sacrificed himself several times under Yggdrasil. »
« No … » Alessandro murmured, frightened.
« Yes. We have never been able to take the Grail but this time is different. This time we know where it will appear and when it will appear but unfortunately we are not the only magicians to know about it. »
« Do you want to start a war? »
« The war has already begun. » The Grand Master said raising his hand.
« What does it mean that it has "already begun"? What are you talking about? »
« The Rote Mäntel (trad. Red Coats) are already moving from Hamburg to be able to take the Holy Grail, we cannot allow it. Do you understand? Do you understand this? »
« Yes, Grand Master. » Alessandro replied with a submissive look.
« Perfect. We will provide you with the means to fight the war. »
The Grand Master Giovanni Monteverdi X snapped his fingers and in that moment came two elderly members who brought along an heavy wooden box. They placed it on the ground and, using a crowbar, opened it.
The Grand Master invited Alessandro to come closer and he saw a sword in the box, a sword of Ancient Rome. The boy took the weapon with both hands, it was quite heavy, and he asked the Grand Master:
« Why did you choose me? »« Because I decided so. You will evoke a Servant that will serve you in this war and that will protect you so that you can conquer the Holy Grail for the Coven. Vos ipsi sunt electi. »
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