Nosrick Cinema.
The white wall displayed the ongoing film Fate/Zero. With the movie's unusually long runtime, most audience members had already taken at least one restroom break. Yet, judging by the narrative progression, the end seemed nowhere in sight.
Such an extraordinary length had elicited complaints from some: "Are they trying to kill us with this runtime?"
That said, most viewers were actually thrilled about the extended experience.
After all, unlike typical films that wrap up in an hour and a half or two, this nearly four-hour-long epic provided just what these time-rich, post-work spectators craved.
Many even joked they'd love the film to last the whole day, saving them the trouble of finding something else to do.
For these fans, there was one word to summarize their feelings: "This is absolutely insane—I'm loving it!"
As the film moved past the introduction of Masters and their Servants, along with some light interactions, the first battle between Servants finally began.
When the blonde-haired knight slowly approached the harbor, the audience's hearts collectively raced.
This moment marked the unveiling of Fate/Zero's action-packed essence, with its first battle showcasing breathtaking visual effects.
The clash between spear and sword—the dazzling battle of heroes from across eras—instantly ignited the audience's hidden passions.
Be it seasoned adventurers accustomed to life-or-death fights, or ordinary people who'd never seen combat, everyone felt as though they were personally part of this glory-filled battle.
At the same time, the chaotic skirmish painted a clear picture of the strategies employed by each Master-Servant pair, giving the audience not only a feast for the eyes but also a sense of the intellectual warfare intrinsic to the Holy Grail War.
Meanwhile, in the Imperial Mage Academy, reactions to the same scenes were markedly different from those in Nosrick.
"An enchantment wrapped around a sword? A spear that shatters magic? That's just too cool!"
"The concept of the Invisible Air barrier is fascinating—engraving wind and water attribute magic circles onto the blade to obscure its length and even fool opponents into forgetting they're facing a weapon. But compressing a self-charging array to such a small size? And the immense magical power enveloping the blade would reduce its sharpness. Wrapping it in flames instead might actually make it more effective!"
"I find the concept of familiars odd. Historical legends have mentioned similar summoned companions, but they seem to have disappeared after a certain point. Sharing sensory experiences through them sounds interesting too..."
"Why does this movie feel more like a science lesson than a story? I feel like I'm being tricked into learning something!"
"Exactly! After watching this, I kind of want to study alchemy..."
The room buzzed with discussions, highlighting the contrast between informed viewers and laypersons.
While Nosrick's audience mostly exclaimed things like "Whoa, awesome!", the scholars at the Imperial Mage Academy dissected the film with analytical precision, evaluating its craftsmanship and implications. A casual observer might have mistaken these magicians for veteran cinephiles.
At the center of the debate, a group of senior magicians from both the Imperial Mage Academy and the Imperial Mage Tower, who had quietly joined the viewing, were engaged in a more serious discussion:
"Doesn't this count as poaching? That little brat is blatantly trying to lure our incoming students away!"
"You have to admit, it's a cunning strategy. Even I feel like taking a refresher course in alchemy after watching this... Do you think he specifically chose this timing to premiere the film? Shouldn't the administrator step in?"
"The administrator? He's been spending all his time at the Alchemy Branch lately—why would he bother?"
Despite their conservative adherence to tradition, even these veteran magicians found themselves intrigued by the film's portrayal of alchemical principles. And if they were wavering, the first-year students, still unburdened by deep-rooted academic conventions, were even more captivated.
After seeing Fate/Zero, many of them had already developed a keen interest in alchemy. The only obstacle was the Academy's lack of an official alchemy course.
In contrast to the magicians' debates, the Empire's top-tier Arch Mages—those at the sixth rank of magical mastery—were holding their own conversation while using Eagle Eye spells to observe the film from afar.
"The Holy Grail, a device capable of granting any wish? Plus, it can summon heroic spirits and grant Masters three Command Seals to control their Servants? The mana required for such a system would exceed what even the ley lines could provide. Frankly, this story is utterly illogical," one Arch Mage scoffed. "It's no surprise—it was written by a kid who's not even twenty. It's bound to lack substance."
The Mage's Tower administrator, Hohenheim, shook his head.
"Not quite. While the Holy Grail's setup seems fantastical, the story's other mechanics are remarkably detailed. It depicts the Three Founding Families and the Clock Tower—organizations with complete magical legacies. The Three Families, who created the Holy Grail, didn't monopolize it but instead invited outsiders to compete for its use. That's already quite unusual."
"Furthermore," he continued, "the supposed neutrality of the Church's overseer was compromised when they secretly collaborated with the Tohsaka family. From the start, this competition appears riddled with issues. My guess is that the Holy Grail War itself serves a purpose beyond its outcome. Perhaps the war's process is more critical than the prize..."
Another Arch Mage chuckled at Hohenheim's insight.
"You're as sharp as ever, old Ho. I've come to a similar conclusion. And don't forget what Tokiomi Tohsaka said earlier: that magi join the Grail War to reach the Root. While we don't know exactly what this Root represents, it might be akin to the concept of the seventh rank for us magicians."
"That suggests the Grail War was initially designed as a path to the Root for the Three Families. However, due to unforeseen complications, they had to spread rumors of the Grail as an omnipotent wish-granter to attract participants. Interestingly, the high-ranking magi of that world deliberately suppressed news of the Grail War. You can see this in the dwindling number of participants—by the end, even a 'commoner' like Ryuunosuke Uryuu was forcibly drawn into the conflict."
The analysis continued, with even the initially skeptical Arch Mage begrudgingly acknowledging the depth of the narrative.
Finally, Hohenheim murmured:
"In any case, it comes back to the same question. If the Grail is both the prize and the stage, does its true value lie in the process of war? Is it really a wish-granter as claimed? Can the system of summoning heroic spirits truly exist? And what is the Root—some unreachable miracle or a tangible aspect of magic's ultimate frontier?"
His string of questions reflected his unease and left the other Arch Mages even more engrossed in the cinematic masterpiece unfolding before them.
<+>
If you want to see more chapter of this story and don't mind paying $5 each month to read till the latest chapter, please go to my Patreon.
Latest Post In Patreon: Chapter 170: The End of the "Fate Zero" Broadcast! (Part 2)[1]
Link to the chapter: https://www.patreon.com/posts/creating-anime-125562286[2]
https://www.patreon.com/DaryaDmitrieva[3]
[1] https://www.patreon.com/posts/creating-anime-127344244
[2] https://www.patreon.com/posts/creating-anime-125562286
[3] https://www.patreon.com/DaryaDmitrieva