A/N: Hello! Big sorry for the slow update. Life is full of distractions, and I confess I was very caught up in other things that have been happening. Thank you all for being patient with me. Hope you enjoy this new chapter!

(As usual, do review!)

It had become a familiar sight. The dazzling golden light that filled her vision as she woke up. This time, she seemed to be in the place where he had taken her to after freeing her from the Dursleys. It was vibrant as ever, with countless objects that radiated endless varieties of colour. What happened last night? All she could recall was various flashes of light and tranquillity as she listened to her stellar companions speak to her. There was something else though. She could remember her hair standing on end, her heart pumping with excitement. That feeling was intoxicating and it was so tempting for her to just lose herself in it, embracing it with all her might and letting go. It was not the first time she felt it, for when she conducted the ritual of discovery, a similar set of emotions took over her. Both times it had been interrupted by her losing consciousness. Now that it was gone, she longed to experience it once more.

He looked over at her, she had briefly stirred a few minutes ago, but now her breathing was once again steady and her body motionless. He was sure that her display last night had not gone unnoticed or undiscussed by the students and staff here. After all, who could ever forget the time the night sky turned into the bloody red of rupture.

He had personally never used that noble phantasm, never finding anyone worthy of it. He understood what it did though. It was a sword without equal, a weapon crystallized by the Gods as a tool of destruction that tore apart all creation, leaving nothing but itself to shine brilliantly in the end. Ea, the name he had chosen to give it, was something that was engraved in the genetic memories of every living being. Last night, he witnessed and felt the winds and light of the Star of Creation on the Quidditch field, as well as the shockwave that came afterwards. It was downright electrifying, to witness the ultimate phantasm being unleashed, albeit at a reduced level of power. He chuckled again, it would certainly be a treat to duel her again, once she had returned to her full potential, for she was truly his equal.

Sitting down beside her unconscious form, he lightly petted the crown of her head and stroked her luscious golden locks. She looked adorable sleeping, with her alluring lips lightly parted and a tiny bit of drool running down the side of her mouth as her body fell and rose slightly with every breath inhaled and exhaled. He missed this, looking upon his beautiful sleeping queen. Unable to resist the temptation, he laid down partially on the bend placing an arm around her small shoulders. Even after the ritual and food which he had fed her, she still felt too small. Once she was independent of her tormentors, they would suffer his wrath, every last one of them. The Golden King was distracted from his thoughts as he felt something soft snuggle against him. Her arms had somehow found their way around his waist, embracing him while her body gently pressed against his. She was lightly rubbing her face against the crook of his neck.

It made him feel as if he was in his pubescent years again. For the first time in millennia, the King of Heroes could feel heat rising in his cheeks. He may come off as exceptionally confident, even arrogant to most. But Enkidu, his Enkidu, always knew how to break down that kingly façade and turn him into a blushing boy. The first few months of their marriage were extremely awkward, with him hardly having any physical contact with her due to embarrassment. Having not seen her in eons, those feelings were returning in full force. However, there was something darker, even more compelling. It was the basest of human desires. She was so tempting, lying there defencelessly, with her warm breath tickling his neck and feminine form pressed against him.

He had to do something before he hurt her. The King of Heroes was not used to holding back his desires, for he was the one who ruled and took all the world's desires for himself. He did as he pleased for all his life. Until he met her. She taught him restraint, temperance and patience along with all their benefits. And he would need to summon up all of her teachings and his willpower to avoid doing regrettable things to the one he loved. Extricating himself from the embrace that only seemed to become tighter the more he tried to leave it, he placed a parting kiss on her lips before leaving the room. A smile graced her face, making him even more reluctant to leave her, but the staff were almost certainly searching for her now and he needed to head them off before her rest was disturbed.

~The Greatest Grail War~

The crater that now scarred the Quidditch pitch aroused much interest amongst the student population of Hogwarts, with rumours ranging from tales not too greatly removed from the truth to ludicrous stories circulating in the Great Hall. The Fourth Years of the Faculty of Celestial Bodies had plenty to say. Some mentioned the howling gale that blew across the field last night, others spoke of the memorable display of lights. However, all the rumours had one aspect to them that remained the same, Iris Potter. Someone whom most had believed was inept at magic had produced a harrowing show of magical might the previous night. It was an impossibility to many of the youths seating in the Great Hall.

"Say, what do you think of it. Cho? Is it an illusion?"

"Your guess is as good as mine, Cedric. I personally think it is real. Did you feel a tingling sensation throughout your body when the final flare was discharged? I do not think that any illusion can cause that."

"Yea, probably not. Speaking about last night's events, apparently it has drawn the interest of many older families. Father said that many of them were asking their sons and daughters to keep an eye out for any more abnormalities coming from the younger Potter. The Potters are traditionally a Pure Elementalist rich family, with a majority of Potter mages being affiliated with the fire magic. It is extraordinarily rare for a family member to have a Manifest vastly different from that of his or her family. When there are cases like this, the wizard or witch is usually weak in terms of practical magic due to incompatibility. Hence, Iris's case drew a lot of attention when news of it spread. Many are very interested in her potential, some even insinuate that Iris is not a true Potter, but a child from another family."

"I see. Have you talked to Sir Lancelot regarding the other abnormality we saw last night? The flower that bloomed against the flares of light?"

"Yes, Lancelot mentioned that it was most definitely the noble phantasm of a servant. He had heard tales of it during his travel to France, of an ancient warrior of the east wielding an indomitable shield which had never been pierced. However, upon further questioning of the identity of the warrior, none of the people who told the tale could agree upon which nation the warrior had originated from. Nor could they agree upon his name."

"What do you think? Is the servant powerful enough to be an eventual threat?"

"Personally, yes, but this will only affect us if he gets through the initial stage of the Grail War unharmed. What worries me more is something else Lancelot mentioned."

"What else did he say?"

"He told me that he had recently been sensing an overbearing presence in the campus. Yet, he has never been able to see the origin of the presence itself. His guess was that it was a servant. But it certainly is not any of the 7 that had been summoned by the Hogwarts faction. The question is then, who is the master of this servant and how did a servant master pair that is not part of the Hogwarts faction sneak into the school grounds."

"Be careful Cedric, these occurrences are usually not coincidences, I don't want to lose you to the Grail War."

"Don't worry Cho, I will take care of myself."

At the Head table, the elderly Headmaster and Headmistress were also pondering the events that had transpired the previous night. If the rumors were true, then the situation may be worse than they imagined. Not only did the younger Potter have an extremely powerful entity, possibly a servant, protecting her, she herself was also immensely strong. It would be very difficult to execute the strategy the Order of the Phoenix had come up with during the summer due to these new factors. They would have to proceed with caution, or risk incurring the wrath of the golden-haired man.

The ancient wizard in particular was worried. It was far too late to turn back. He knew of the mistakes he had made in the past when dealing with the younger Potter. He could not bear to witness the consequences of those errors anymore. Hence, as a form of closure both to her, her family and himself, he had devised the Holy Grail War to release her from the shackles of fate as quickly and as painlessly as possible. It was not just for them though, it was for the good of everyone. He had once caused the death of thousands due to his inaction and his guilt. Not this time though. So why?! Why did these obstacles which had never shown themselves before crop up now?! Did the Heavens not approve of his actions? Were they fine with letting many more die due to this loose end?

Dumbledore was no fool. After the confrontation within his office, he had looked into the possible identities of the man that had bested him utterly. From the destructive power and reaction time of the man, he deemed that the man had to be some sort of magical entity, most likely a servant given the current circumstances. But how? How did Iris Potter summon a servant? The Grail was only supposed to call forth 21 servants, 7 for each faction. So how did the 22nd servant appear? These questions were quickly deemed irrelevant and brushed aside. Finding out the identity of the servant was much more important.

So far, judging by the physical traits of the servant, the Headmaster had narrowed the servant's identity to a few plausible options. He believed the Servant to be either Ozymandias, the Great Pharaoh of the New Kingdom, Cyrus, the great Persian King or Moctezuma I, the Aztec Emperor. All of these great rulers were associated with a towering physique and an aura of invincibility which the man had emanated. Furthermore, the runic inscriptions on his amour ruled out any possibility of him being a European or East Asian hero. However, he could not help but feel as if he was missing something. Ozymandias, great as he was, was never associated with golden chains. Moctezuma, wealthy as he was, hoarded gold and precious gemstones, not weapons. Whereas Cyrus was a dignified, humble and righteous man, lacking in the arrogance and confidence the man possessed.

Even more disturbing was the man likening the chains to Iris. What did the chains have to do with the younger Potter? Were they connected somehow? He would need to ask Sinistra about Iris later, to find out more about the unique education she was receiving, as well as the possible links that he was missing. Once he had assembled the necessary information, he would solve the mystery surrounding the man and Iris.

Or so he thought until last night. He had just returned from a day trip to the Ministry to finish off some administrative matters dealing with the Wizengamot. He would never forget what he saw. Even from afar, the titanic storm that brewed above Hogwarts was clearly visible. Heart racing, he horridly flooed from Hogsmeade into his office. Rushing out of the castle gates, wand in hand, he was ready to confront whatever had produced that frighteningly intense magical storm. However, by the time he reached the Quidditch pitch, the intense discharge of magical energy had already subsided. All that was left were a group of students huddled and shaking at one end of the pitch, as well as an enormous crater at the other end.

After questioning the professor in charge on the events that had occurred, he learnt that the younger Potter had performed a ritual designed to have the same effect as the Manifest revealing charm. After requesting for and viewing the memories of the Professor, Dumbledore was shellshocked. He had never been aware of this potential that existed within Iris. Even though there were some cases of abnormalities that plagued the first few years of her life, he believed it to be nothing other than rare incidents that would vanish as she grew, especially after he had placed the bindings on her.

When she was first placed in the Faculty of Celestial Bodies, he was secretly glad due to the association of poor aptitude for magic with unusual Magical Manifests. But the happenings of the previous night proved him all wrong.

All these new factors threw wrenches into his strategy, and he had better come up with a solution quickly. The fate of the British Wizarding community rests on his actions for the next few days.

~The Greatest Grail War~

Professor Sinistra was worried. Her student had not shown up for any of the courses for today. Knowing her hardworking tendencies, this was certainly cause for alarm. Had something happened to her since last night? Her dormmates mentioned that they had not seen her come back to the dormitories and that her bed was empty. Her pace sped up as her mind raced, thinking of one horrible scenario after another that could have transpired. Absorbed by her thoughts, she did not notice another figure walking in the opposite direction and promptly collided with him.

"Ah, Sinistra, I was just looking for you. Would you mind sitting down and having a cup of tea with me? I have some questions on my mind that I wish to ask you."

"Headmaster, pardon me for my brusqueness, but one of my students has been missing since last night. I need to ensure that she is still safe."

"Does that student happen to be Miss Potter?"

"How did you…"

Dumbledore held up a hand. "A tale for another time. I have already checked; Miss Potter is still within castle grounds and very much alive. However, I am unable to pinpoint her exact location. If you're still worried, I can send out a message, asking for the portraits in the school to keep a lookout for her. But for now, I wish for you to accompany me to my office."

After a moment of hesitation, the professor agreed, following the Headmaster back to his office.

"It is a coincidence that the topic I wish to discuss with you today is Miss Potter's education in the school."

"Why now Headmaster? You haven't shown any interest in the past 3 years." Hearing the Headmaster suddenly question about Iris's situation ignited a burst of indignation and frustration within her.

"I believe that it is in the best interests of us all that we understand what is going on with Miss Potter. I promise that I will reveal the reason to all once this year is over."

"You never cared when she entered the school looking like a broken doll. You never cared when she struggled to find her way around school, groping around with no one to help her. You never cared when her fellow faculty members would deliberately make things even harder for her. You never cared when she stood atop the Astronomy tower, ready to end it all by her own hands. You never cared at all, you vile and sorry excuse for a headmaster. Even now, you still have the gall to ask me about her situation. I'm sorry Headmaster, I will not reveal anything to you about her. You do not deserve to know."

"Sinistra, listen to me. I understand that I have not acted in Miss Potter's interest for the last few years. But I wish to do so starting now."

"No… no… You are not acting in her interest at all. You are just saying so because it is a convenient excuse to use to question me, especially after what happened last night."

"Sinistra, please. This is for Iris too. Is it so hard to believe that I am concerned over a student's wellbeing in Hogwarts?"

"You're right Albus, I want to believe that you care about a student from your school. But the past few years have proved that notion wrong, over and over. Did you ever find out about what happened to Iris on a day to day basis? Sometimes, even I wish that I did not save her that night. I could see why she tried to end her life. She had nothing to live for. She was already past the stage of despair. Back then, you did not even bat an eye. Now that she looks the healthiest she has been for years, you suddenly become interested in her case. Pardon me Headmaster, but something is not right here. I will not cooperate with you unless you tell me what has been happening."

"Sinistra… I… will tell you eventually. The information the Potter family and I myself hold is too dangerous to be leaked."

"Then I am afraid that we are at an impasse, Headmaster." Turning around, she briskly walked out of the office. She needed to find the younger Potter, before the Headmaster got to her. Swiftly, she headed towards the faculty dormitories, determined to find Iris. Soon, she reached the door of her dormitory. Pushing the handle down with deliberate force, she opened the door and walked in. However, just as she was about to take a step nearer to Iris's bed, a hand gripped her shoulder.

"Where do you think you are going?" The voice was cold and filled with suspicion, causing a shiver to run down her spine. Turning around in trepidation, her own onyx orbs met with blood red gemstones that glinted mercilessly at her, as if demanding her submission and immediate retreat from the room. She immediately dropped her gaze, something told her that it would be immensely unwise to continue holding his gaze of authority. However, despite her mind frantically warning her not to do so, the words tumbled out of her mouth before she could stop herself.

"Who… are you?"

The man dressed in a simple shirt and pants whilst adorning a golden necklace stayed silent for a few seconds. His gaze swept all across her body, before coming to rest on her eyes once more. It was distinctively uncomfortable for the professor. She felt as if she was being dissected, being finely taken apart for him to scrutinize every thought, every memory that she had within her mind. Was she under a legilimancy attack? No, this was something different, something far more potent. It was the imperial authority of a ruler, forcing his subjects to lay bare their hearts in front of him. Her instincts screamed at her to run away, yet she remained rooted to the ground. Then, his expression softened and he spoke.

"You do not recognize your king? That itself is punishable by death. Consider yourself lucky, subject, for I recognize you from her dreams. You, the one who allowed your king to see his beloved once more. You shall be rewarded for your actions. Now, what are you here for?"

He did not seem to mean harm to her. Gathering every scrap of remaining bravery, she had within herself, she looked at him once more in the eye and asked.

"Do you know where Iris is?"

"Do not worry, she is safe with me. If anyone who wishes to do her harm approaches, rest assured that I will deal with them most severely."

"How can I trust you? I don't even recognize you amongst the parents, staff or students of this school. For all I know, you may have kidnapped her or done something worse."

She immediately recognized her faux pas as his gaze reverted to an intensely hostile one.

"Watch your mouth, mongrel. My patience and tolerance of you will not last forever if you continue spouting nonsense. How can I ever harm her? I, who have known her for eons longer than you. For now, I shall assume your slander to be due to ignorance and hence, it is my duty to educate you on who "Iris" truly is."

Sinistra swallowed, its not as if she had any choice now, she might as well find out the truth behind this man. He did not seem to be lying, or rather, he did not seem to have a reason for lying.

"Come, follow me and be grateful for the view that is about to grace your eyes." A massive golden portal opened up and enveloped the two of them, engulfing the professor's field of vision with a flash that caused her to shut her eyes immediately. When she opened them again, she gaped as she witnessed neat stacks upon stacks of treasures, weapons, gemstones, gold, all imbued with magic were on display. She turned her gaze around in wonder as she began following the man down a path laid with golden bars. Soon, they reached a small room, which contained furniture made from the finest materials that can be found throughout the world. On the bed was a small figure.

It was Iris! She was comfortably tucked in, gently breathing as she slept. A huge wave of relief washed over the professor as she realised that her student was alive and well taken care of.

"Convinced that I am adequate to take care of her now?" Came a mocking voice from behind. She nodded her head silently in consent, shame and guilt overwhelming her for some reason.

"Now, tell me, woman, do you know of the time when the world was one, ruled by a singular King, when the Gods have yet to relinquish their hold on the world?"

"A single… king…?" Despite her extensive knowledge of history, both magical and non-magical, she was at a loss at when the world was ruled by one King. There had been rulers who came close to world domination, like Alexander, Darius, Genghis Khan, Queen Victoria, but they never achieved it. Who could this man be? He mentioned that during his time, the Gods still played a major role in shaping the world. That implies that he is from one of the cradles of civilization. Could it be?

All of a sudden, images began flashing in her mind. A piece of writing she had come across while looking for suitable material to tutor Iris with. It was an obscure tale, one that told of heroic deeds from a time long past. It spoke of how the hero triumphed, then lost, struggled and finally found peace. It was humanity's oldest record of heroism.

The Epic of Gilgamesh.

The Great King who ruled over everything in existence and collected all of the world's treasures. The ruler who had brought humanity into a new age by rejecting the Gods.

"Yes, I am indeed Gilgamesh. Although that piece of writing you have read is highly inaccurate and should have never been passed down to later generations, it does serve as a decent introduction to who I am. The one you know as Iris, is the reincarnation of my dearest, Enkidu."

"Iris? Enkidu? But… how is this possible?"

"There is no meaning in questioning the plausibility of such an occurrence. All that you need to understand is that should anyone cause harm to her, I will deal with them accordingly. Your past deeds do not exempt you from any punishment should you violate the laws which I have set after today. From now on, you are no longer needed. I shall take care of her myself, including all the aspects of her education."

Sinistra was about to protest, but her rationality took over and she meekly nodded in acceptance.

"Good, now begone, and tell no one of what I said."

With the parting sentence, Sinistra found herself transported back into the dormitory, the Oldest King and Iris no longer visible.

Remember, I will always be watching you. Any act of defiance will be punishable by death, mongrel.

~The Greatest Grail War~

The next few days passed by uneventfully for Iris. No one came looking for her anymore. Despite the initial surprise at Gilgamesh becoming her new tutor, she accepted him rather quickly, to her own surprise. He turned out to be more than qualified as a teacher, as she was still going through fairly basic forms of sorcery, ones that he himself had dabbled in in the past. Due to his superior understanding of the Ancient Mesopotamian script, as well as the forms of magic that were used back then, he was able to impart the knowledge of both theoretical concepts and practical methods of usage unto Iris at a high rate of efficiency.

She certainly did not mind learning at a faster pace. It was refreshing as she had not encountered any challenges in studying for such a long time. She used to be bored as she would be stuck at a particular topic whilst the Professor and other tutors struggled with translation and figuring out how this exotic branch of magic truly worked. Now, she was able to learn uninhibited by others, and frankly it was amazing. She was also able to discuss and understand the deeper concepts that worked behind magic within her world. From Gilgamesh, she heard tales of how the Gods bestowed magic upon the humans, as well as the epic wars between the different pantheons of Gods as they fought for dominance over certain geographical regions of the world.

Furthermore, she learnt that, beneath the surface of the Earth, there were countless magical leylines, constructed by the Gods themselves in order to tap into the magical potential of Gaia itself. These leylines converged at points known as nexus points. At these points, the entire environment will be filled with magic, ideal for a magical community, who often draw power from the ambient magic that surrounds them. Hogwarts and Hogsmeade for example, are built above one of these nexus points.

Aside from all of these, there was something else Iris was extremely interested in. The dreams that had visited her time and again, of Gilgamesh and someone else, named Enkidu. However, every time she would ask him about these dreams, he would brush the questions aside, telling her that he himself did not remember the happenings back then clearly anymore. Even through their non-verbal form of communication, she knew, somehow, that he was lying. It intrigued her even more, why would he do so anyway? Why did he of all people, feel the need to lie? However, the more she asked, the more he evaded the questions, eventually ignoring them outright in favor of conveying more knowledge to her and assigning her with more work to keep her occupied.

Time flew by, and soon, the week was drawing to a close.

Gilgamesh?

Hmm? What is it?

Bring me to the Astronomy Tower later today, on the side facing the lake, the other schools are arriving at Hogwarts during the afternoon.

Why do you wish to go? What if you are unable to see what is happening? Wouldn't that make the trip pointless?

It's something I have never looked at before… If I am unable to see it, could you describe it to me? I've heard so many things about the other schools, and so I've always really wanted to get to know if those tales are true…

A pang of pain shot through his chest as he saw a wistful look appear on her face, followed by another bout of anger. It was difficult to control himself whenever she would unconsciously remind him of what the others have done to her. It was unforgivable. He had tried to find a cure for her ailment in his treasury, but it appears as if humanity had not thought of any solution to a damaged visual cortex. She would never be able to witness the beauty of his garden, to look upon him in all his glory anymore. It was bittersweet, for her to be in such a condition.

No. He would not give up so easily. He would go to the ends of the world, if not transcend life and death once more to gain the cure. He would make her see again.

Gilgamesh? Can I go? Please?

Her hopeful expression was all that was needed to convince him and he muttered his approval.

~The Greatest Grail War~

The journey to the top of the Astronomy Tower was a swift one and soon, Iris and Gilgamesh found themselves at the highest point of the school, looking down at the lake. Today was the date whereby the foreign delegates will arrive to participate in the Grail War, although the actual event does not begin until the weekend.

Gilgamesh looped his arms around her waist and hugged her tightly to him. This place surely brought back horrible memories for her.

Gilgamesh, do you see anything?

No, not yet. It appears that the guests are later than expected.

It took another quarter of an hour for anything notable to occur. The water of the surface of the lake rippled. A mast emerged from the waters, rising steadily until the silhouette of a massive galleon was visible, complete with its full set of riggings that proudly displayed the Durmstrang coats of arms.

Gilgamesh, what are they arriving in? I see a shape atop the lake, it's light blue in colour.

I believe that the humans of this age call this a ship.

Can you describe it to me?

… Alright…

The massive ship moored itself to the pier near the northern face of the castle and laid down anchor. Meanwhile, on the other side of the castle, huge winged horses tugged a carriage along in the sky gracefully, eventually landing in the courtyard within the castle. The majority of the Hogwarts student population seemed to have taken an interest in the arrival of the other schools and were crowding the various corridors and hallways near the parts of the castle where the ship has dropped anchor and the carriage has landed. Cheering and clapping resounded throughout the castle, growing even louder as students began stepping out onto the Hogwarts grounds from their respective magical vehicles.

~The Greatest Grail War~

The Welcoming Feast was a magnificent affair, with plates piled with scrumptious food, ready for the guests and students of Hogwarts to tuck in. The Great Hall was adorned with elaborate ornaments and decorations, looking grander than ever. Its ceiling no longer displayed the night sky. Instead, it had been converted to one similar to that of a great ballroom, with massive chandeliers hanging down and illuminating the Hall. All students and staff were expected to be in their best attire and behavior for the occasion. The students were told to take this historical gathering of schools very seriously in order to not embarrass Hogwarts and by extension, the British wizarding community through uncouth words or actions.,

The Hall remained silent aside from a few mutterings scattered here and there until the Headmaster received a notification from the caretaker. Soon after, the Headmaster rose from his seat.

"Hogwarts, please stand and welcome, the young ladies and gentlemen from the prestigious Beauxbatons Academy of Magic!"

The great oak doors of the Great Hall swung open, revealing scores of witches and wizards dressed in the traditionally sky-blue dress robes of Beauxbatons. They walked gracefully amidst the claps, each showing off a bit of their magical abilities. There were flashes of flame, jets of water instantly frozen into a beautiful arc of ice in midair, followed by two luminous streams of blue light racing towards the head table, flanking what looked like a soaring albatross, which promptly vanished in a gust of silvery wind as it reached the podium just in front of the Head table, revealing the towering form of the Beauxbatons Headmistress, Madame Maxime.

The remnants of the magic that had been cast were removed swiftly by the students as they gathered at the front of the Hall and bowed deeply.

"It is good to see you again, Albus."

"The same to you, Madame. Hogwarts welcomes you and your contingent." Dumbledore answered before kissing the back of the Headmistress's hands.

As the Beauxbatons students dispersed to join the various faculty tables they were assigned to, the Headmaster of Hogwarts returned to the podium.

"Now, let us welcome, our friends from the North, the students of Durmstrang Institute of Magic!"

This time, a gargantuan ice breathing dragon flew through the doors, followed by a group of smartly but simply dressed young men and women, marching in an orderly fashion across the aisle between the tables to the front of the Hall. Performing a series of well-rehearsed maneuvers, they cleared an area for the dragon, which was currently circling the Great Hall to land. As the dragon landed, it let out a fearsome roar that shook the tables and caused the windows of the Great Hall to rattle. The staff and students looked on in awe as two more men, one dressed in a snow-white coat, the other in what appeared to be the standard student clothing of Durmstrang. Once it caught sight of them, the dragon bellowed once more, before the man in the white coat waved his cane, causing the dragon to vanish in an icy gale that swept across the hall.

"Albus!"

"Igor."

The Headmasters greeted each other with open arms, embracing as though they were old friends with broad grins on their faces. Meanwhile, the students of Durmstrang have also joined the faculty tables allocated to them.

"Greetings to all our foreign delegates and guests, I shall not hold you all up for any longer. Tuck in, and enjoy the meal."

~The Greatest Grail War~

A few jets of green whizzed past his ear as he dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding what would have certainly been an unpleasant injury.

"Who is it that dares to fire upon his King?"

The King of Heroes turned his sight upon the direction of the Forbidden Forest, where the arrows had originated from. In an instant, his golden armor materialized, protecting him against any further attempt to attack him. It did not take long for a second volley of arrows to home directly towards him. The air around him shimmered and various golden portals appeared, each firing a weapon that collided with and caused the arrows to blow up in a mighty explosion. Before the smoke even cleared, the golden portals had begun firing weapon after weapon towards the forest, laying siege to the attacker's position.

"Come out, mongrel, and face your punishment."

The response from the other party was another shower of arrows. However, this time, they were aimed at the ground instead of him. The King of Heroes was puzzled for a brief moment, before monstrous roots and trunks began sprouting from the locations where the arrows had landed. These roots seemed to be sentient, and headed straight for him, clearly intent on rendering him a sitting duck by binding him. Although the golden portals immediately targeted these roots, they seemed to be immune to lower grade weaponry, causing most of the projectiles from the Gate of Babylon to simply bounce off.

Annoyed, the Golden King reached out within his treasury for an answer to this new tactic. Out came a single, fiery-red sword. It was said that this sword had once belonged to the Roman God of War, Mars. Later on, it was passed on to the scourge of civilization himself, Attila. The King of Heroes drew the sword and plunged it into the ground beneath, causing the grassland to instantly ignite in a blazing inferno, cleansing the surroundings of life, leaving only charred remains of the beings that once populated the area.

The magically enhanced roots were not about to give up. They were protected by ancient Druid magic, which was even further enhanced by the presence of the nexus point beneath Hogwarts. Time and again, they tried to enter the area which had been affected by the Sword of Mars. However, each time they did, the protections that were gifted to them were demolished immediately by the blazing flames, causing them to be instantaneously consumed by the hellfire that raged within the area. The King of Heroes wasted no time and swiftly torched the remainder of the roots with the Sword.

Whilst he did so, hails of arrows descended upon him, answered instantly with an equally intense barrage from the Gate of Babylon. Once the final remaining roots had been vanquished, the King was ready to go on the offensive. The golden portals turned to face the forest and unleashed a hellish bombardment on the area, levelling and destroying the forest that once stood there. Gilgamesh smirked as he spotted a slim figure attempt to slip away into the deeper parts of the forest, where he would be hidden again. The shower of golden projectiles intensified, cutting off any escape route that the other servant could take. The King of Heroes strode confidently towards the forest, sure that his opponent was trapped.

The battlefield suddenly grew silent. No more arrows were fired and conversely, no returning projectiles from the Gate of Babylon were launched. Something was not quite right. A sudden vision flashed in the Golden King's mind. The next set of arrows would come from the North, instead of the East, where he was headed right now. But how? Gilgamesh had not experienced this form of vision since he was a child. But he knew to trust it, for it was an extension of his own mentality. Reopening his portals to face the North, he opened fire on the forests there. Sure enough, the arrows that were already on their way towards him were intercepted in mid-air, resulting in dazzling iridescent bursts of light that lit up the night sky.

Another vision came, and warned him of the tendrils that were stealthily advancing on him from the back. The previous attack was clearly a diversionary attack, possibly a noble phantasm that allowed for the other servant to be in multiple places at once. Drawing the Sword of Mars once more, the King of Heroes set the grassland ablaze once more. The resulting conflagration caused a flaming vortex to form due to the rapidly rising, superheated air, resulting in a pillar of flame that rose towards the heavens. It scoured the landscape, consuming all before it, leaving death and destruction in its wake. Not a single plant, magical root, or animal was spared.

Frustratingly, his opponent had concealed his identity extremely well, so well that the King of Heroes knew for certain it was a either an innate ability or trait the hero possessed, or a noble phantasm that hid one's identity. By the time all the new roots that had sprouted had been dealt with, his opponent had already vanished. The King of Heroes could not longer sense his opponent's presence. Grudgingly, he had to admit that this was a well-orchestrated attack that would have succeeded on many lesser beings. His opponent certainly knew how to maximize his advantages. A smirk found its way onto his face. If this was the standard of all the servants participating in the Grail War, then he would certainly be able to find entertainment in the Grail War.

~The Greatest Grail War~

"Now that we have all filled ourselves, I shall be making announcements for the coming year." The Headmaster of Hogwarts was at the podium once more as the food on the tables vanished.

"As all of you know already, Hogwarts will be hosting the inaugural Holy Grail War this year. The Holy Grail War is a prestigious event usually held by the International Confederation of Wizards in a chosen city. However, this time, it has come to our school. This Grail War will be of a scale never seen before, with 21 masters from 3 different schools participating. Each of these masters have already summoned their servants, who are usually famous figures from either history or mythology that will fight alongside them for the coveted Holy Grail.

In the initial stage of this Holy Grail War, it will be a team competition, with the 3 factions seeking to eliminate each other from the competition. Then, once only masters of a singular faction remain, they will be pitted against each other until there is only 1 master left. This master shall receive a chance to have a wish granted by the Holy Grail. Safety precautions have already been put in place to prevent any unfortunate accidents from happening and to ensure that this Holy Grail War remains a healthy form of competition between the three schools.

The actual Grail War will begin on Sunday and last for an entire 9 months. The venue of the Holy Grail War will be a 100-mile radius surrounding Hogsmeade. For students wishing to watch the Grail War unfold, the school has provided magical mirrors which will broadcast the events of the Grail War in designated classrooms and all common rooms. Wizarding radio will also provide updates on the Grail War every night after dinner time. Hence, please do not go out of your way to look for the participants of the Grail War when the even is underway. The school will not be responsible for any injury incurred due to irresponsible actions of individuals.

Finally, for students not participating in the Grail War, you will have an opportunity to participate in various academic related events, such as the Magical Fair next April, as well as academical competitions of both theoretical and practical nature held within the school for the next year. If you wish to apply for these events as a participant, you can approach any of the staff and request for a form. Fill in the form and pass it to the staff to register yourself.

Before I forget, do know that the Yule Ball will indeed be taking place this year for 4th Years and above, although younger students may also participate if asked by a student of 4th Year and above. So, for those wishing to take part in this traditional celebration, do purchase the appropriate attire and learn the appropriate dances and manners.

Thank you all, and may all of us have a fulfilling and eventful year ahead."

~The Greatest Grail War~

Done! Hopefully you enjoyed this very delayed chapter. Once again, apologies for the slow updating. Chapter 6 will begin the Grail War proper and we get to see the plot unravel. For those confused about the history of the world this story is set in, worry not, there will be plenty of hints and explanations in the coming chapters.

A lot of people seem to have an issue with the inconsistency of the timing of Merlin's life and the founding of Hogwarts. Canonically, Hogwarts was established around the 10th century C.E., whereas Merlin was a major part of Arthurian Legend, which is set around the late 5th and early 6th centuries. Therefore, it can be seen that the lore of JK Rowling's Harry Potter series is fundamentally flawed in this aspect as well. Hence, I have sought to "fix" this issue by moving the founding date of Hogwarts forward to the 6th century. And Merlin attending Hogwarts as a student is not really a plot device, its actually canon Harry Potter. He was in fact, a Slytherin according to the Harry Potter wikia.

From now on, I will be revealing the Servants of Black, or the Beauxbatons servants, starting off with Saber and Lancer. The Hogwarts servants were overwhelmingly British. Now, there will be some diversity, with various famous French historical figures filling the ranks of the Beauxbatons faction. Once again, if the servants seem overpowered, just remember it is intended.

Saber of Black

Master: Fleur Delacour

True Name: Karl Karling (Father of Modern Europe)

Gender: Male

Birthday: 2nd April 742

Height: 183 cm

Weight: 74kg

Blood type: Unknown

Place of Origin: Aachen, Germany

Likes: Drinking, Being with his paladins

Dislikes: The responsibilities of ruling, Saracens

Talents: Acquiring titles and fame

Abilities:

Magic Resistance: A

Due to his devout nature when alive, Charlemagne possesses a strong defense against all forms of magecraft and is immune to even High-Thaumaturgy. Modern mages are completely helpless against such servants.

Charisma: B+

Charisma at B Rank is sufficient for a King or a Queen to rule a country. Charlemagne receives a boost since his kingdom was the greatest of his time and due to his identity as the Augustus.

Riding: B

Origin: The Ancestor of Europe: A+

This ability, a testament to Charlemagne's rule and coronation as the Holy Roman Emperor as well as the name "Father of Europe", allows Charlemagne to gain a massive boost in power (an increase by 2 in the strength, endurance and agility up to a limit of A+) when battling anywhere within Western Europe. This effect is strengthened even more if battling in either France or Germany.

Imperial Privilege: A

This ability allows Charlemagne to temporarily manifest abilities that are essentially impossible to possess due to his status as a widely recognized emperor of Europe. For Charlemagne, the relevant skills are Swordsmanship, Charisma, Fine Arts, Divine Protection as well as Military Tactics. There are some others that are not named, nor known, even by Charlemagne himself.

Noble Phantasms:

Joyeuse: The Sword of the Most August

Rank: A+

Type: Anti-Unit

Range: 1-5

Maximum number of targets: 1-2

Joyeuse, the sword attributed to Charlemagne. It was a beautiful sword that radiated light of all spectrums and colors. The sword itself has gained divine attributes throughout the centuries as tales that it was forged to contain the pommel of the Lance of Longinus arose, as well as Charlemagne using it to combat Saracens not faithful to the true God. Hence, the sword has reached a level whereby it cannot be considered simply a human construct anymore, it was on par with several divine constructs. When wielded in combat, it grants the wielder Rank B Divine Protection. The sword itself also has the ability to phase through armor. It cannot be stopped, unless the opponent invokes a conceptual weapon that counteracts the effects of this sword.

Joyeuse Ordre: Exemplify the Heroic King, O' Twelve Radiant Swords That Travels the Wide World

Rank: A++

Type: Anti-Army

Range: 100-200

Maximum number of targets: 2000

The Famed Twelve Paladins of Charlemagne sublimated into a Noble Phantasm. It is activated through the sword Joyeuse. Charlemagne raises his sword and calls upon his fellow paladins to gather. In the sky above him, 12 famed weapons, including Astolfo's magical lance, as well as Roland's Durandal manifest as Broken Phantasms that are alight with magical energy. Charlemagne then targets the swords at the enemy, causing the 12 weapons to slam into the enemy at speeds far greater than sound, exploding in a brilliant flash of magical energy and enveloping the enemy in a ball of destruction.

Imperium: Renovatio Imperii Romani

Rank: A+

Type: Anti-Army

Range: 200

Maximum number of targets: 1000

This Noble Phantasm is tribute to Charlemagne's role as the Holy Roman Emperor. He was deemed the successor to the mighty Roman Empire. When used, the noble phantasm generates a Reality Marble, an alternate dimension created in the image of a vast field, where Charlemagne's 12 paladins stand. Essentially, this Noble Phantasm manifests Charlemagne's 12 paladins as D Rank servants with decreased parameters. They are granted their main Noble Phantasm. Within the Reality Marble, Charlemagne and his Allies gain a boost in their Luck and Endurance parameters by 1 Rank, up to a rank of A+.

Parameters of Charlemagne:

Strength: B

Endurance: B

Agility: B

Mana: B

Luck: A+

Noble Phantasm: A++

Lancer of Black

Master:

True Name: Jeanne d'Arc (Saint of Orleans)

Gender: Female

Birthday: Unknown

Height: 159cm

Weight: 44kg

Blood type: Unknown

Place of Origin: Domremy, France

Likes: Prayer

Dislikes: General Studies

Talents: Flag waving

Abilities:

Magic Resistance: EX

Jeanne displays incredible levels of Magic Resistance due to her unwavering piety and faith in God. Her magic resistance is not so much mitigating the damage that magecraft causes, but more of averting the damage itself by making it impossible for magecraft to target or hit her.

Military Tactics: B

She turned the tide of the 100 years' war against England, be it by pure luck or divine intervention, the armies which she led were incredibly strong and almost undefeated in battle.

Charisma: C

Jeanne's figure participating in the assaults while hoisting a flag raised the morale of the soldiers to the limit and united the troops. Thanks to her Charisma, it is possible to make others believe in the contents of her "Revelations" without basis.

Revelation: A

Revelation is a skill to "hear the voice of the heavens" and take optimum action. It accommodates all matters related to the achievement of a goal. It is a skill held by the soul of the user.

Saint: B

Saint indicates being acknowledged as a saint. It allows for 2 parameters to be raised by 1 Rank when summoned, as well as regenerative properties if injured.

Noble Phantasms:

Luminosite Eternelle: The Banner of the Almighty

Rank: A

Type: Anti-Unit

Range: 1-10

Maximum number of targets: 1-2

The Battle Standard of Jeanne d'Arc, the holy flag which she kept by her side all her life. It is used by her to attack in battle. It is her main weapon, and in addition to its powers as a weapon, it inspires and lifts the morale of anyone fighting alongside her. It is the crystallization of the legend of Jeanne d'Arc waving her flag on the battlefield on the battlefield and fighting alongside her forces.

Luminosite Eternelle: God is With Me

Rank: A++

Type: Barrier

Range: 10-100

Maximum number of targets: Unknown

Jeanne d'Arc can activate the ability of her Holy Banner. This causes her EX in magical resistance to be converted into protection against all harm both physical and spiritual. It brings about a light that completely isolates anyone within it and cuts them off from the surroundings. The downside to this ability is that the damage accumulates within the flag, causing it to begin to tear as she uses it.

Sword of St. Catherine:

Rank: C

Type: Anti-Unit

Range: 1-5

Maximum number of targets: 1-2

The sword which was wielded by Jeanne d'Arc in her lifetime. However, it was never once used in battle. The Sword of St. Catherine is especially effective against heroes who believed in a religion other than any form of Christianity. It is also effective against heroes who have either the "devil" or "demonic" trait. (i.e. Fate Grand/Order Nobunaga)

La Pucelle: The Crimson Holy Virgin

Rank: EX

Type: Suicide

Range: NIL

Maximum number of targets: NIL

The Sword of St. Catherine can be used as a catalyst to activate Jeanne's final Noble Phantasm, La Pucelle. This summons the flames which once burned her to death. This grants her a level of destructive power immeasurable by numbers, capable of destroying anything in order to save something, in exchange for her life.

Parameters of Jeanne d'Arc

Strength: C

Endurance: B

Agility: B

Mana: A

Luck: E

Noble Phantasm: A++