CHAPTER 1
Cova da Iria, Fátima, Portugal, 1916
The countryside is calm, but the air is tense. Portugal feels the weight of World War I and the Spanish flu.
Three children, or rather, three little shepherds - Lúcia, Francisco and Jacinta - they were herding the sheep, it was just another ordinary afternoon for them... Until that day.
Jacinta (curious and scared): — "Do you think the war will reach here? I'm afraid it will..."
Francisco (disdainfully): — "That's for grown-ups. We only have sheep. Why should we worry about that? The war will never reach here."
Lúcia (looking at the sky, thoughtful): — "..."
Francisco (confused) — "Lúcia, are you okay? You've been looking at the sky for a while now..."
Lúcia (still thoughtful) — I dont know… I feel like… a gut feeling…"
Francisco (still more confused) — Gut feeling? Are you sure you are not seeing ghos-
As if something had heard their words, a pale light begins to appear in the sky, soft, almost like a halo. It's the first omen. The glow grows slowly. The children freeze. The sound of the wind increases, mixed with an almost human murmur.
https://youtu.be/ZeBb-7Bf3SQ?si=LuiZy1vSGRG_swVT (This are BGMs to give dynamism to the story, there will many of them) Lucia (clutching her rosary): — "Who... who's there?"
A female figure, dressed in white, appears, almost floating above the grass, crowned by a golden light. Her eyes shine with a supernatural serenity, but her aura conveys power and judgment.
Virgin (calm and motherly but firm voice): — "Children, I was sent to show you the way. The world is on the brink of the abyss. Warriors… leaders… and innocents will suffer. You will be the bearers of my secret."
Jacinta (in shock, almost whispering): — "Is... is it a miracle...?!"
Virgin: — "It's not a miracle… It's a warning… The Virgin Mary War begins."
The wind howls, the animals flee in fright, and the Lady's light intensifies, almost blinding. Small golden sparks dance in the air like fragments of sunlight cutting through the earth.Thousands of people gather at Cova da Iria. The sun in the sky begins to spin, casting multicolored rays and shimmering supernaturally. The crowd screams, cries, and prays. The divine aura is so intense that even the sky seems to split. Those who were there didn't just see a miracle... they saw the first stirrings of a war that would decide the fate of humanity.
Several years later, 202X, Coimbra
…
Alarm clock starts ringing…
…
Ugh… Is so annoying…
…
I hate schooooooooooool so booooooooring…
…*
??? (an old voice) — "Gabriela, wake up! Breakfast is ready! You're going to miss the bus to school!"
Gabriela (Realizing on thoughts) — OH SHIT THE BUS!
Me, Gabriela Carvalho, I wake up stumbling all over, for a moment I thought I was going to slam my face into my bedroom door. I run down the stairs faster than an Olympic athlete goes to the bathroom.I arrive at the kicthen when I see my grandpa João there. Sometimes he likes troll me and I love him but at this times of the morning, he always angry because I sleep late and he hates that. He has a point but… meh Im just silly.
Grandpa João (Angry) — "Jesus Christ, always the same thing in the morning. When are you going to start sleeping early, oh maria-rapaz?"
Gabriela (Angry too) — "Stop calling me! Tsk…"
I start eating my cereals grandpa did for me. I feel bad when he does this things are so simple for me but laziness sometimes take better than me. Meanwhile, the TV was on and showing broadcast, the tipical news no cares but lately are getting weird...
TV Broascasting (a man speaking) — "And now for the country's main news: Fog in the Central/North regions is increasing in Portugal. Meteorologists still don't know how to describe the increase in fog since it began four days ago and more people disappeared since then (blah blah blah)…"
Yeah, fog is increasing and people are disappearing more, and no one knows why. I look at outside and I almost cant see the neighbors houses… And we are in the end of May, in summer. Did Global Warming decide to screw only us over just now and fuck the rest of the world? I dont know but if you ask me if is weird, its very weird. Once I finished my breakfast and dress up, I hug Grandpa and said goodbye to him, and I left the house until I reached the bus stop. There were already some people there, specifically students from the same school as me. It's already routine to always see the same faces in the morning.
Bus finally arrived and I went directly to the seat I sit always and after everyone was seated on the bus, I started looking at the landscape while the others were doing shit. It was just another normal Tuesday, althought the only difference was I couldnt see the landscape because of the fog.
https://youtu.be/bXB8sY3nu1g?si=aSOJY033JvZud1QU
And after some minutes later, I finally reach school. The hallways were packed early in the morning. Some students were walking around the school with friends to make the time pass quickly, others were already at the door waiting for the teacher, and others were simply praying that the teacher wouldn't come today. It's not like manga or anime, but just a typical day at a school in Portugal. I don't have many friends, but that doesn't bother me; I'm just a typical "tomboy who goes to the gym with a short temper." It's my personality, but what can you do, right?
I arrived at the door to the classroom where we were going to have the first subject of the day—Math.
Ugh, math first thing in the morning isn't my strong point. It's not really anyone's strong point, except for those who understand that shit... Which isn't me. I saw the same faces - the gunas (assholes), the class clown, those who talk about football non-stop, the gossip group. Basically the normal faces I've known for two years, and thankfully this is the last year I'll see them, especially since this is my last year of school. Now that I think about it... I FORGOT MY MATH HOMEWORK! YIKES! But luckily, I always have someone to back me up. Diana Soares, the typical nerd in the class—she gets good grades, is always a good student, and never misses a homework assignment, and also has that annoying cuteness. And obviously, anyone who forgets their homework asks her for help copying LEL. Modern problems require modern solutions, right? We don't have that best friends forever friendship, but we get along well.
Gabriela (making little eyes) — "Hello Diana, can I copy your homework, pwetty pwease? I forgot to make my homework and I dont want teacher to kill me. Pwease, I will buy a chocolate bar during the break."
Diana (annoyed and pouting) — "Good gried, why everyone never makes their homework. I swear that next time I won't let you copy, but this time I'll pass and I really hope you buy the chocolate bar on the break. Hmph!"
She hands me her homework and I start copying quickly before teacher arrives and in less of 2 minutes, I had already managed to copy almost everything, it was enough to have my homework done. But then Diana says to me:
Diana (confused but skeptical) — "Gabi… whats that on your hand?"
Gabriela (confused) — "What do you mean-?"
I look at my right hand and I see a red bruse appearing on my hand. It has a very specific shape but I don't remember hitting my hand anywhere... Weird. Maybe with ice it will solve it and Im ok.
Gabriela (dismissing) — "Meh, It shouldn't be anything, probably ice or an ointment should help."
Diana (relived but still skeptical) — "Phew, but you better really treat."
Gabriela (pout) — "I will, dont worry."
At the same time, Math teacher finally arrives and greet everyone as he opens the door. Everyone starts entering the room and going to their tables.
….
??? (a confident female voice whispering) — "Oh~? She is a Master too, huh… What were the chances of a classmate being a Master too?"
Diana (whispering)
— "I dont know, but she seems very clueless about this or doesn't even know what's going on… I dont want her to die but but it looks like it will be the case."
…. https://youtu.be/7fuS5mInBMc?si=8HTS0rGmmPW41IbL (Back to Gabriela) Sigh... finally... It's time to go home. 17h30 felt more like forever. I pack up everything on my school bag as everyone rushes to outside. Schools here are a living hell - heavy workload, tiredness and repeat - the same bullshit from Monday to Friday. But luckily the school year is almost over and I'm free from this hell. I finally get outside and notice that the fog has increased more than in the morning. What the fuck is going on? This is stupid and annoying! UGH! nothing normal ever happens in Portugal!
But what can I do, complaining won't do any good. After walking for a few seconds, I reach the bus stop to go home. The ride home is always the same as the ride to school—I sit in the same seat and others make shit. Honestly, I feel sorry for the bus drivers who have to lead with these kind of... retards who don't know where to stand. The bus finally arrives at the stop and I get off, I start walking calmly home but the fog is increasing more and suddenly… I can't hear anything anymore... the people, the bus engine... it was gone… All I can hear is the birds and the sharp cold wind hitting on my skin.
https://youtu.be/viDXSNJmWZ0?si=c5iPnt7hxeVAmaeW What's going on...? I start to feel scared, the bruse on my hand starts to hurt a lot. Guh- Its hurts, why Im feeling my body weirdly. I can even feel my own blood boiling. My legs start to walk on their own as if something is about to happen. I can't find my home. Where is my home? It should be here, but it's not. I only see more fog. And more. And even more. I can't see anything more than just fog. But then I start hearing metallic steps… Loud… Metallic Steps and then…
…
「Aaaaaargh!」
I hear a loud and wild scream, enough to make me stop completely. I'd never been so scared in my life. I could feel like I was going to pee right there. I start to shake all over. Slowly... I start to turn around… And what I see... is something that I don't really know what to feel at the same time as so much terror… I see a sort of knight all covered in dark metalic armor, he's tall... very tall... much taller than me... He's holding a very large sword and it seems heavy for a simple human. His helmet has a mouth, as if the helmet itself were his face, I give it an aura of terror and revenge. He screamed once again:
??? (Mysterious tall knight) — "「Aaaaaargh!」"
But this time is in my direction, he is gonna to kill me. I dont know what to do. What I should do. Where I should go. This is it? This is my end? My life is gonna end like this? Im gonna die and no one will notice I vanished? He is raising the sword and walking towards me, he is ready to kill me. Yep, this is it. This is my last moment. I will miss Grandpa. I cant do nothing but just stare the tall knight in fear and in shock state. He is raising even more, he will do it in one blow and I cant do nothing. Im sorry Grandpa, Im gonna die here. I… I… (starts sobbing) I want someone to help!
The sword began to lower and head towards me. When I was supposed to die, a huge gust of wind blows past me and-
Clang!
A loud metalic clash happens in front of me. A woman appears in front of me - A Templar-style woman, dressed in tight black with a white cross on the chest, a white cape with a red cross detailed in red, a brown belt with a gold buckle, black gloves, a short white skirt in contrast, and wielding a spear that conveys discipline and organized combat.
Templar Woman (Determined and fighting now)
— "Hey girl! Get out of here! I will handle him! RUN NOW!"
Without thinking, I start running away as fast as possible. My adrenaline is at its peak. The only thing I think is: RUN.
Templar Woman (with a smirk)
— "Heh- This Berserker looks very strong. Show me your moves!"
The woman and the warrior start fighting once a rough battle, but clearly the knight was morte strong.
Templar Woman
— "Tsk… Damn you. Why you have to be so strong."
Berserker (screaming)
— "「Aaaaaargh!」"
They continue fighting until I could finally see my house and get inside quickly. It was nightime already.
Gabriela (sacred as hell)
— "GRANDPA-! HELP-!"
Grandpa João (Extremely concerned)
— "Gabriela?! Where you have been?!"
Gabriela (starts sobbing)
— "I-I-I-!!!"
Grandpa João (hugs Gabriel)
— "Shhhh, it's ok, Im here…!"
(Meanwhile on battle)
The Templar woman continues fighting against Berserker but is getting harder for her. Then Diana appears.
Diana
— "Rider! Get back, Berserker is too much strong!"
The Templar woman, revealing herself to be Rider stills fighting but she knows she has to retreat.
Rider (angry and sweating while retreating)
— "DAMN IT…! Damn you, Berserker! Master, let's run away from here! He's just getting stronger!"
Diana (to agreeing)
— "Yeah, let's go!"
Both Diana and Rider disappears as Rider jumps with Diana from house to house until a safe place. But Berserker was still mad and He's not gonna stop soon and starts rushing towards Gabriela's house.
At Gabriela POV…
Grandpa João (now at the couch with Gabriela but still concern)
— "Tell me what happened…"
Gabriela (shocked and scared)
— "I-I was going home, when the f-fog increased a-and I saw a tall and s-scary g-guy…"
Then Grandpa João saw Gabriela's hand with the bruse.
Grandpa João
— "Your hand…"
Gabriela
— "I saw this on school… I think I need to put ic-"
Grandpa João (concern)
— "No. This is not a bruse… Is a Command Spell."
Gabriela (confused)
— "A Wha-"
But then the loud wild scream is heard again. Now more aggressive and furious, and getting closer. Im doomed.
Berserker
— "「Aaaaaargh」!"
Gabriela (more scared again)
— "IT'S HIM AGAIN!"
Grandpa João
— "Quick! You have to summon your Servant!"
Gabriela (In panic) — "A WHAT?!"
Grandpa João
— "Nevermind! Follow me!"
I followed Grandpa João to the backyard, where there was a shed. Grandpa João opens the door, and on the ground there was a summoning magic circle. I still very confused whats happening. I dont know if this is a dream or a nightimare but I want to end it soon.
Grandpa João
— "The only thing you have to do is summon a Saber-Class Servant!"
Gabriela (Desperate)
— "HOW?! WHAT DO I SAY?!"
Grandpa João
— "Anything! Just do it!"
Gabriela
— "Someone… please answer! If there is a hero who hears this plea…Fight for me! Fight for us! Answer my call, Saber!"
Then a golden flash explodes from the circle. The ground vibrates as if the weight of history itself were bearing down on the world. A silhouette forms in the midst of the light. Ancient armor, a cape fluttering, a sword stuck in the ground. The atmosphere mingles the scent of sea air and battle dust.
The silhouette was of a man, he was red-haired, had green eyes, a mole near his right eye and a handsome face, clearly a young man.
Saber (with a warm smile but with a determined air)
— "I have answered your call… unknown. I am Saber and I ask you… Are you my Master?"
[End of Chapter 1]