"..."<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">"If by some fluke we end up having to face off...I won't kill you. Your my first friend in ages."</span>Same here but... Arthuria said nothing as she waited for more people to arrive. Finally, a bearded man clapped his hands, demanding their attention, "Welcome Magi, including those hailing from parts unknown. Today, we have gathered here for the beginning ceremony for the two-hundred and one Holy Grail war. As of now, we have all the seven classes present inclusive of one more." He paused, looking serenely at their faces, "The rules of the war is simple, Survive and defeat your foes. Only the chosen participants shall have their class symbol burned onto their hand when the Grail is revealed. I'm sure all of you know this by now but these symbols consist of five strokes. Each stroke allows you to call upon the combined power of your artefact's prominant owner once. Once used, it will fade."<br/><br/>"There are two ways of elimination from this war, through death or the destruction of your artefact. Know this, the moment you are chosen, the magical circuits in your body become dependant on the artefact, meaning that if the artefact is destroyed, you will never again be able to cast magic. Ever. Now, when there is only one participant left, the Grail will present itself to you. One wish for anything you want, but it is only for a limited time only! So be sure to have that wish in mind."<br/><br/>"Now, without further ado, we shall commence the beginning ceremony." The man clapped his hands, causing air to swirl in the atrium. Mist gathered in the middle of the circle that the statues formed and with a flash of light, there was a silver-ish cup standing on a podium of gold in the middle of the atrium.<br/><br/>Arthuria felt a burning sensation on her hand, knowing immediately that she had to move fast. Severing the tendrils of mana, she rushed back into her copreal body and rolled to her feet. She had to move fast, in order to ensure her safety. A simple glance at the back of her right hand told her that she was chosen. She picked up the sheath from its bracket and murmured a spell, sealing it from all but her sight. She took the sheath and stowed it away in the cupboard before making a beeline tothe kitchen.<br/><br/>In the kitchen, she picked up a knife and walked back to Raj.