video; username: julius

[viscontree]

Hello everyone. My name is Julius Visconti.

Allow me to take this opportunity to formally thank all of you. I was held in prison for some time along with some others. I understand how much trouble you went through just to aid us.

There isn't a lot I can do to repay the favor. For that I apologize.

[He bows his head down in apology.]

I promise that I'll work even harder from now. [It's the least he can do around here. Julius isn't going to waste his time.]

On another note, I'd like to ask you all a question.

What do you know about magic? I've been intrigued by its concept and origins for some time, yet I hardly know anything. Magic is a difficult thing for me to grasp. I'd appreciate it if we could sit down and discuss it in detail.

Comments

voice | un: archer

[anti_altruisms]

Magic is in everything.

Where I'm from, you might consider it the life force that exists in all living things, in greater or lesser degrees.

Not everyone can make use of it, and in more modern eras, the number of those who can has diminished since ancient times.

It is a well-kept secret from most of the world now, though it wasn't always so.

[viscontree]

Magic was used in secrecy? I understand the reasoning behind it.

[It shouldn't be used thoughtlessly. Just think of what could happen if power fell into the wrong hands. ]

People still practice it in your world. They must spend a great deal of time training in order to fully utilize its potential.

[No one said magic would be easy to use.]

[anti_altruisms]

It was and is.

[ No power should be used thoughtlessly, but that's another discussion entirely. ]

There are mage families that spend entire lifetimes and generations perfecting their art and passing it down to their children.

Walking away from that is almost considered treasonous.

[viscontree]

I see. You can't avoid responsibility.

Magic has been handed down through generation to generation. If you said you weren't interested in it then it'd be the same as throwing away centuries of hard work.

[It makes him a little worried, but if that's how things hare then he has no say in it.]

Is it normal for children to accept a duty like that so willingly?

[anti_altruisms]

I wasn't born to a mage family so I couldn't give you the statistics.

[ That's more Rin's area than his, anyway. ]

I would say it's rare that they turn their backs on it.

[viscontree]

That's fine. Your explanation is elaborate.

[Julius' eyes widen in surprise. ]

Archer was it? [He didn't ask for Archer's name last time they met so he's just going by what's on Archer's username.]

The technique you used back when you saved me--that was magic too wasn't it?

[It was so hard to follow.]

[anti_altruisms]

Archer is fine.

[ It's more like a class/title thing than a name, but it is what he goes by. ]

The weapons I use are created with magic so, in that sense, yes, it was.

[viscontree]

So magic can be utilized that way too. [Nodding.]

You're quite skillful. I could barely follow it with my own eyes.

The guards you attacked weren't killed either. How long did it take for you to perfect it?

[Julius is no mage sure. Even he can tell that Archer put so much effort into mastering magic.]

[anti_altruisms]

Years.

[ Even Archer himself couldn't say exactly how long it took. ]

My techniques are as much a result of practice as they are the fact that I am no longer human.

[viscontree]

Your dedication to magic impresses me.

After seeing you in combat I'm not exactly surprised to learn that you're not a human.

I have yet to come across a human that can maneuver as quickly as you can. [The human body has limits. Archer surpassed them in so many ways.]

[anti_altruisms]

It's nothing special.

[ If anything, his level of dedication was extreme to the point of being ridiculous. ]

Those like me are considered weapons and nothing more.

[viscontree]

[Julius thinks Archer's being modest, but he leaves it at that. ]

A weapon for what exactly? Was there a war to be fought?

[Even weapons exist for one purpose or another. What reason would Archer have to call himself a weapon?]

[anti_altruisms]

[ Nah, he just has shitty self-esteem. ]

Heroic Spirits are familiars summoned with the express purpose of participating in what mages of our world call the Holy Grail War.

We are tools to that end, brought forth to attain victory for our Masters.

One might say we're very efficient war machines.

[viscontree]

A war machine with a will of its own. [The Master's command is always absolute. That's something that Julius can easily understand even if magic is beyond his knowledge.]

You're powerful indeed. In the end a tool is just a tool. Without a suitable master your power would go to waste. Is that accurate?

[He's just making guesses based on the information he's been told.]

[anti_altruisms]

Essentially.

A Servant fairs better if the mage they're contracted to is compatible with them and can supply them with enough mana to function.

Otherwise, it's more difficult.

[viscontree]

[So Servants need a good Master to function well. He got it. Too bad he's left with other questions. Why does magic need to have so many rules? It's not something Julius can study in one day.]

What exactly is mana?

Forgive me for being curious, but it sounds like a source of power--similar to a battery.

[anti_altruisms]

Mana is magical energy.

We require a certain amount of it in order to maintain a presence in the physical world.

[viscontree]

The reason I can speak to you currently is because of this magical energy called Mana. [Got it.]

The other day I spoke to a man with blue hair. He said he was Lancer. Are you two from the same world?

[Julius has seen both of them fight at least once. He can sort of put the two pieces together.]

[anti_altruisms]

We are.

Did he assist you?

[viscontree]

He did. I felt the same kind of presence around him.

His abilities are quick like yours--impossible to follow with the naked eye.

I thought there must be a connection between you two. [A vague one at that, but he's glad they do share something in common.]

[anti_altruisms]

We participated in the same War.

[ The details aren't all pleasant so he decides not to mention them. ]

He's very skilled at what he does.

[viscontree]

You're war adversaries.

[No one can say that Lancer's a bad fighter at any rate.]

War itself is never pleasant. I'm guessing you weren't surprised upon coming here? Fire power's always needed somewhere.

[anti_altruisms]

No.

There is very little here that has surprised me.

[viscontree]

I wasn't surprised to be here either, to be frank. [He's a strategist, there's value in having one for missions.]

Many of our recruits have some latent ability or can fight exceedingly well.

[anti_altruisms]

It's to their benefit that they can.

Otherwise, this 'crew' wouldn't last very long.