I really appreciate all the reviews, favorites, and follows. Honestly, I have a bad tendency of easily losing interest to continue a story if it doesn't seem that much interesting to others.
Anyway, for the sake of the plot, in this AU Shirou had not been aware that Darnic was the true culprit behind the Greater Grail's disappearance.
02
In the eve of the Third Holy Grail War, the Einzberns had at last resolved their disagreements regarding which class of Servant to summon for the war. The majority was convinced that, even though unpredictable in their nature, an Avenger-class Servant would be able to easily slaughter their opponents. On the other hand, the senior members of the family considered it would be wiser and obviously safer to get a Ruler-class Servant that had an unparalleled advantage in the form of their Command Spells. In the end, Jubstacheit von Einzbern ended their arguments by letting the would be Master of Einzberns faction to make the decision.
The homunculus girl who didn't look older than seventeen easily chose Ruler. Her reason was simple, too simple in fact. She preferred Ruler more because it sounded peaceful, nice, unlike Avenger that seemed to promise chaos. Obviously, as a quite person herself, she would like to have someone with Ruler's characteristic as a partner, rather than an angry and troublesome Avenger. The decision was met with no protest if only because no one dared to oppose the head of the family.
At once, they made the preparation to summon a Heroic Spirit that could meet the criteria as a Ruler-class. It wasn't easy since there were barely anyone resembled a saint in the Far East history. They managed to discover one eventually, and the ritual to summon the Servant was immediately held in the main hall of their castle. It was a success. And all of them held their breath as a mysterious figure appeared in front of the girl.
"I am Amakusa Shirou Tokisada. It is nice to meet you, my Master."
He smiled warmly at his new Master before giving her a polite bow. The male Ruler-class Servant seemed to be around his Master's age. But even with his ornate samurai attire, he didn't look that much remarkable. And the ones presence couldn't help but to voice their opinions in whispers.
"Who is it again? A child of a lord or something?"
"A rebel boy, I heard."
"A boy? Are you certain? He looks more like a girl to me..."
"Admittedly, he does look feminine what with his silky hair in a long ponytail."
"Pretty looks aside, can we seriously rely on this faux saint?"
"Is it too late to cancel the contract and summon an Avenger instead?"
And these continued on for a while. They very much doubted this Servant could stand a chance against western heroes and legends. It seemed like the boy wouldn't be able to do much if he wasn't a Ruler. Even Jubstacheit himself began to lose hope of finally winning the war. However, they had already made a sever interference in the system by summoning a Ruler-class Servant. They couldn't afford to make any more risks.
The girl Master on the other hand, just kept her emotionless gaze on her new Servant who didn't look the least bit fazed by the unpleasant comments. It was hard to tell, but she was actually intrigued by the boy and his smile. He was the first person who had ever given her a smile... and what a nice smile it was.
"Only a fool would ever underestimate my Ruler. He would win the war. I can see it in his eyes."
Her declaration managed to put the hall into a complete silence. Without another word, she then turned around and took her leave. Her Servant tried to mask his surprise as he quickly moved forward and fell into steps behind her. Never in his life had he ever been surprised like that, least of all by a girl no older than him.
/
If there was something that he could be proud of, it was his composure. He had never lost himself, not even when he was about to be decapitated. He didn't know why for sure, but he believed it was because of his faith. Everything that happened to him was by the God's order, and he as a faithful servant would never question it. Every suffering and despair was the God's merciful way to open his eyes, to show him the reality, the innate problem of the world that he must overcome, so he could create a new, pure world.
It was natural then that he tried to convince himself that what happened earlier was nothing but a strange dream caused by a case of anxiety. He admitted that in the back of his mind, his worries about meeting with the Einzberns couldn't be cast out completely.
Still, he couldn't explain the traces of tears on his cheeks. There was also the fact that somehow, without his knowledge, he ended up inside this cozy room with a hearth nearby to keep it warm. He was sitting in a comfortable seat, and a warm cup of tea was already there on top of an ornate table in front of him. Sitting across the table, Jubstacheit von Einzbern appeared to have been waiting for him to return to his senses for a while now.
"Is something the matter, Lord Amakusa? We couldn't tell what has happened to you, but we are sure you weren't being possessed."
So, it wasn't a dream after all... Okay, it was likely that he hallucinated. Meeting the Einzberns again after so long resulted in his mind unconsciously conjuring an image that he so wished to see. His reaction was highly unexpected though...
"Your concern is appreciated, Jubstacheit-dono. I am alright now. Having white hair is a blessing, but it also comes with drawbacks. One of them is what you all unfortunately witnessed earlier. My apologies. And it's Father Shirou now, if you please."
His Charisma aside, he seriously doubted the older man would buy such rubbish. He knew he wouldn't, if he was the one who heard it.
"I see. So, there are indeed drawbacks as the result of your forced incarnation as a human again. I offer you my condolence, Father Shirou."
Well, no one saw that coming... He needed to get serious though, so he took a sip of the tea to help him clear his mind. It was nice.
"Thank you. But enough with my pitiful problems. It's not a pleasant subject to discuss. I'm sure you have a much more important matter to present."
"As you wish, Father Shirou. We could save the pleasantries for later. Surely, you are already aware that the supposed time for the next Holy Grail War is near. And yet, the likeliness for it to happen is very low for an obvious reason."
Yes, the fourth iteration of the event that had been most anticipated by the Magus society was supposedly coming quite soon. Unknown to anyone else, Shirou had been spending most of his second chance of life in preparation to claim a secure victory. That was why he had stayed in the Middle East for the last several years, searching for a catalyst to summon a certain Servant that would be a vital part of his plan.
"Is that so? I heard long ago that the Einzberns have been working for a new Greater Grail immediately after the previous war."
For a brief moment, the Einzbern leader's expression changed slightly to something that could be considered as shame.
"We have tried all we could. I am ashamed to admit that we haven't come to the expected result."
"That is unfortunate, but completely understandable. Recreating something as miraculous as the Greater Grail surely is not an easy task."
"I shouldn't have been surprised that someone of your caliber managed to understand, Father Shirou. Unfortunately, the other founder families are far less intelligent than you. They have been senselessly pressuring us to solve the problem by any means necessary."
From this point, he could tell what the elder man was thinking. Shirou himself had considered this option occasionally, but he trusted more in the Einzbern's ability to create the Greater Grail's replacement. That was until he received the invitation from them.
"I'm sorry to say that even I don't have the ability to locate the missing Greater Grail. There's a great possibility that it had already been destroyed during the chaos of the World War II. Even if it somehow miraculously survived, it could end up anywhere what with the defeat of the Nazis."
Surprisingly, Jubstacheit smiled in response, and not without a hint of smugness.
"That is where you are mistaken, Father Shirou. Up to this point, the Greater Grail is still very much intact. We, the Einzberns possess the mean to know its condition even though we couldn't figure out its location. And as a living Heroic Spirit with outstanding intelligent and unparalleled talents, you are the only one who could provide the help we need most if we wish to recover the missing Greater Grail."
Now that he thought about it, the Einzbern leader's perception of him was quite spot on. If he gave his all, and used up every resources and connections he had, he was confident that he could locate the Greater Grail in less than a decade. He would gain a lot of problems and unnecessary enemies along the way for sure. But the main problem was to fully operate the Greater Grail, a ritual in the form of a Holy Grail War would still be required beforehand. And in the end, he would be left exhausted and with no time to finish his own preparation.
"Let's say I agree to cooperate, what would the Einzberns offer to help in this endeavor?"
"Obviously, we offer full financial support, but most importantly, we also have one thing that would surely help with the search."
"And that is?"
If it hadn't been disturbing enough already, the elder man smiled wider since he had successfully piqued his guest's interest.
"We have invented a special homunculus that fits for this task. She was originally born as a substitute for the Lesser Grail, but recently we found out that as an unexpected result, she also has the ability to sense a Greater Grail's presence if it within a reasonable radius."
Well, that was unexpected. Understandably, anything regarding homunculi was a touchy subject for Shirou, but he managed to set aside his personal feelings quite well this time. His logic took over his mind completely, and as a result, he found himself giving approval to what he just heard.
"That would be very convenience indeed."
"I am glad to hear that, Father Shirou. I would also like to propose a permanent alliance between us if you don't mind working with us again."
And that one statement seemed to seal the deal for Shirou. Having all of the Einzbern's vast resources in his grasp would surely make things easier. He would be able to put most of his unnecessary concerns to rest if all went well.
He finished up his cup of tea in a way that showed how serious he was about his statement.
"It seems like we are coming to an agreement, Jubstacheit-dono."
"Excellent. If you wish to request something in return for your assistance, you just need to tell us, and we will do everything in our power to provide it."
"That wouldn't be necessary. We basically share the same dream. We wish for the revival of the Third Magic, and eventually the ascension of the human race, or what I personally prefer to call as the salvation of humanity."
At once, Shirou's persona changed dramatically. After the event of the Third Holy Grail War, Jubstacheit never underestimated the Einzbern's former Servant ever again, and had since developed a remarkable sense of respect for him. However at that very moment, he felt something that he had never expected he could ever feel. Amakusa Shirou Tokisada with his usual smile had somehow made him feel fear.
"As you wish, Lord Amakusa." He cleared his throat uncomfortably. "Now if you please, let's introduce you with your future partner for the upcoming endeavor."
"It would be my pleasure. And it is Father Shirou now, in case you've forgotten."
With that, the meeting was finished for the time being. It was clear that they had come to an agreement. Any further details would be discussed later as they made the preparation for the search of the missing Greater Grail.
Shirou's mind had already begun to make necessary adjustments to his already complex plan as he silently walked along the Einzbern leader through series of hallways. He didn't bother to admire the details of the castle. Surely, it wasn't that much different than their lesser base in Japan. And he only ceased his deep thinking once he noticed that they had arrived at the grand backyard.
He felt it then. He felt the unmistakable presence first before he even looked up. As far as he knew, only persons who possessed the same soul could emit the same presence. And at that moment, he felt the exact same presence, the one presence he most cherished beyond anything. With that realization, he braced himself to look up at the one who gave off that presence so strongly.
There were only two possibilities. One, the rubbish excuse he made spontaneously earlier ended up being true. As unlikely as it seemed, his 'blessed' white hair was the one to blame for his recently reoccurring hallucinations! And the other one, the fate simply took a great joy in messing him up over and over again.
Seeing the sign of his guest's 'unfortunate condition' about to come out again, the elder Einzbern cleared his throat to draw his attention.
"Lord - I mean, Father Shirou. Please have a look at that female homunculus who is currently tending to the flowers. She is the one we talked about earlier. You may call her Irisviel von Einzbern. As you can see, she is the latest Justeaze-type homunculus. So, it is only natural that she is identical in appearance and to some extents, personality with the previous model that was none other than your partner in the Third Holy Grail War."
The former Ruler-class Servant tried not to break down at the mention of his beloved Master.
"Lumina... Her name is Luminasviel von Einzbern. I would appreciate it if her family remember her always. So, please address her properly."
He didn't care that he just gave away the fact that he was actually capable of affection. He never tried to hide it anyway. For the moment, his attention was focused solely at the oblivious homunculus girl.
"Please pardon me, Lord Amakusa. We were aware that you were close with the - I mean, Luminasviel. But we've never thought that it was much more."
All his existence, Jubstacheit had never met anyone or anything more unreadable than the man before him, not even a golem. He was too worried that he had offended him that he failed to notice that he just addressed him incorrectly again.
"It's all good. Now if you excuse me, I would like to give Miss Irisviel a greeting."
It shouldn't have been a surprise that what Shirou considered as greetings were not less unpredictable than his nature. With a series of practiced movements, he produced a single Black Key before throwing it forward in less than a second. In a flash, the blade embedded precisely right in front of the girl's feet. It took her a few seconds to understand what exactly just happened. Then in absolute shock, she fell backward with a hysterical cry.
Not even the Einzbern leader could hide his surprise at the totally unexpected development. On the other hand, Shirou's expression didn't change as everyone in the immediate vicinity looked around in panic.
"Rest assured, the thought of harming Miss Irisviel never crossed my mind, and it never would. Admittedly, my uncivilized way of greeting was rather rude, but it served a mean to show that the fine lady is not yet ready to take part in the upcoming endeavor."
The priest even had the audacity to wave innocently at the girl once she realized that he was the one who just 'attacked' her. She glared at him, and he was honestly taken aback by the unmistakable fire in those familiar eyes. Then something that even he didn't expect happened. The girl moved to pick up the Black Key, and then clumsily threw it in his general direction with every intention of getting back at him. Unfortunately, it didn't go as intended... not even close.
He could only raise an eyebrow as the blade nearly skewered the elder Einzbern instead.
"Well, I would say her throw wasn't that bad if her target was in actuality you. Don't you think so, Jubstacheit-dono?"
The elder man tried to regain his composure as their newest family member bowed at him in shame before quietly excusing herself without looking back.
"I admit that her ability in combat is rather lacking even for an Einzbern. What do you propose we should do then, Father Shirou?"
"Let's be patient for a bit more. Give us six months. I would help her to become not only an expert Magus, but also a formidable combatant in six months."
Shirou cherished Luminasviel with everything that he was and more, but he sometimes couldn't help but wished that she had been a better combatant. He knew he was the one to blame for her death, but maybe just maybe, she could have defended herself at least until he returned if she could fight better. Now he absolutely hated himself for even letting this blasted thought crossed his mind, but he had to remain objective if he didn't wish to repeat his failures.
"Very well then. We will prepare a hopefully more than adequate living arrangement for your stay here. In the mean time, please make yourself at home, Father Shirou. Now if you please excuse me, I don't wish to prevent you any longer from having a much needed rest after your long journey."
"Thank you. That would be much appreciated."
The two parted ways. The lord of the castle made his return to his study. And the honored guest decided to take a leisure walk around the castle. The next six months would prove to be rather uneventful, but they wouldn't mind. Patience was one of their greatest traits.
/
As he woke up in his new fancy quarters early the next day, Shirou immediately got his mind to figure out the best way to approach his would be 'partner' after their not so friendly meeting the previous day. He knew that for his own good, he needed to make sure he wouldn't end up being too close with her. The only thing required was for them to trust each other, nothing more. That was much easier said than done, though.
Who was he kidding?
Yes, his religion didn't believe in reincarnation, but personally he only followed the more essential teachings, and didn't care that much about anything else.
Honestly, he was an open-minded person. He was always in humanity's side, and couldn't care less about their random factions. In fact, he wouldn't even hesitate to punish any human if they threatened their own humanity. On the other hand, he would sincerely treasure other non-human beings if they truly possessed humanity. That was why he had a deep sympathy for the homunculi, because most of the time, they showed the purest form of humanity even though they were not exactly human beings by nature.
He even genuinely believed that homunculi actually possessed souls.
And in Lumina/Iri's case, he would be only fooling himself if he pretended that they were entirely different persons. It had nothing to do with his Revelation or both of his Eye of the Minds skills. Somehow, he just knew it. He could feel the connection, the bond between them. But what was he supposed to do? She didn't seem to feel anything between them, and obviously didn't recognize him at all.
Surely, the fate rejoiced at this very moment, seeing him looking pathetic in this problematic situation.
How did it end up like this anyway? He was supposed to discover the catalyst to summon the Queen of Assyria. And after that, he would begin his walk in the path of a villain as he waited for the Holy Grail War to eventually come. It was supposed to be that simple, no emotion, only devotion.
One thing for sure though, he would not stray away from his dark path. Because at the end of this path, he would discover the true light, the light that would bring salvation for that one thing he always treasured all his life. Once again, he reminded himself that he was only the heaven's tool that would eventually be discarded into hell. There was no future with him, period.
With a newfound determination, he decided that he would threat Irisviel like he did with his beloved, because she deserved no less. This time, he would make sure she could find happiness. But at the same time, he would also make sure she would not even think for a second that she could find her happiness with him. This time, he would not repeat his mistake. He would not fail to see the bigger picture ever again.
He looked outside the window then, and noticed that it was still very early, about an hour before dawn. So, he prepared himself to head out. It was his usual daily routine, waking up early to have some exercise and practice. He knew he was already abnormally strong, fast, and durable for a human, but he was determined to at least match his Servant form in his new human body. After decades, he had come close, but still not quite there yet.
His efficient lifestyle allowed him to be fully ready in the castle's backyard much quicker than anyone expected. It was still quite dark and the air was too cold for most, but it didn't bother him one bit. At least there didn't seem to be anyone else around this early. It might be hard to believe, but he Amakusa Shirou Tokisada was actually a bit self-conscious about his rather unsightly appearance, what with his unusual coloring and the numerous scars all over his body.
But as he was about to take off his shirt, he sensed a distinct presence nearby.
"Keep your shirt on, please. You don't want to pollute the scenery, do you?"
As he watched none other than Irisviel herself taking a seat at a nearby bench, he briefly wondered how she learned to deliver such a devastating blow.
"Ah, Miss Irisviel. Good morning. I believe I haven't introduced myself properly. My name is Amakusa Shirou Tokisada, and I apologize about yesterday. Please believe me, I meant you no harm."
Feeling somehow rather awkward all of a sudden, he moved toward a tree a good distance away from where she sat, and leaned on it. She didn't seemed to care though as she kept her gaze on the horizon, waiting for the sun to rise.
"What was that about then? Were you trying to put me in some sort of test? If so, I would accept your apology."
Her quick thinking and understanding put a fond smile on his face as they reminded him of the same characteristic he so loved from long ago.
"You are correct. I merely wish to see whether you are ready or not to face the unpredictable and danger."
"It was still rude, mind you, but somewhat understandable. I suppose I shouldn't have expected a better treatment, least of all from a stranger. And I shouldn't have been surprised, since I've already been informed about our parts in the search of the missing Greater Grail. It is the purpose of my existence after all."
It broke his heart to hear what she just said. He wished nothing more than to show her hope, but he must choose his words wisely to not make it appear that he cared about her in particular.
"Please, don't say that. Regardless of the nature of your birth, you and the others are also human beings who deserve to be cherished and respected. Your life is your own. You are free to pursue whatever wishes and dreams you surely have."
That statement struck her deeply, even more so when she realized how sincere he was, but she still didn't trust him yet.
"Such a bold if not thoughtless statement. It is far from easy to stand against fate, especially if you're alone in this world."
"Then please let me offer you my hand. I am here to help you to become strong enough to stand against fate on your own, but it doesn't necessarily mean you have to face everything alone. Someday, you would meet the ones who are willing to treasure you unconditionally, and stand by your side no matter what."
That one honestly touched her feelings, and she finally saw the man in a new light, a much better one than before.
"That is... actually appreciated. Thank you. What should I call you, by the way?"
It took him a moment to ponder about it. Lord Amakusa? That one still made him sweat-drop. Father Shirou? Wait a sec... father? NO! Definitely no, not from her. No question there. He needed to find something that still seemed somewhat close, but not too personal.
"How about sensei? It means teacher in my native language. I think it'd be quite fitting, considering that I'm about to become your mentor and instructor."
She took a moment to try the word in her mind, and consider whether it was fitting or not to address him as her teacher.
"Sounds good to me... sensei. What do you mean about becoming my instructor though? I thought when you declared that you wish to help me to become strong, you only meant it metaphorically..."
"Ah, I see you haven't been informed about this. I am not that bad of a fighter, but admittedly, I'm a rather poor protector. So, it would put our minds more at ease if you're also fully capable of defending yourself."
That sounded pretty amazing to her personally, to be able to stand up on her own, but still... She was aware of her own limitations.
"Is that really possible for me? I mean, I'm not exactly a combat-type homunculus."
"Yes, because you are human. Humans have the potential to become what they wish to be if they are determined, dedicated, and genuine in their effort."
She could only gaped at him for a moment. She wasn't sure if he was a genuinely kind person or merely an idiot, or perhaps a genuinely kind idiot?
"You are definitely different than I expected, even more so than what I saw in the portrait."
The possibility that she already knew about him before their official meeting putted him on guard for sure.
"What did you expect? And what portrait?"
"The big painting in the main hall?" She raised an eyebrow. "The great Amakusa Shirou Tokisada in his fancy samurai attire, with a long ponytail and all..."
"Oh."
A painting... What the - Seriously? When he read in the letter that the Einzberns held him in high regard, he never ever thought it was actually serious.
"Well, in there 'you' look so regal, passionate, and... handsome." She blushed slightly. "Imagine my disappointment the first time I saw you in person then. Just so you know, the sudden weird behavior didn't help either. It was so out of place, not to mention embarrassing."
For the life of him, he could not remember Luminasviel ever had the natural talent to offhandedly deliver fatal blows to other's pride just like what this girl did so innocently. That was most likely a new one.
"Please, answer honestly. It's about the priest attire, isn't it? That must be it. The red coat helps a bit surely, but people would still think a samurai is far more awe-inspiring than a priest." He paused for a second. "Or maybe the hair? It doesn't look that good now, but more practical. And the new color is a blessing."
To his surprise, she let out a laugh, a genuine, free, innocent, and most beautiful laugh, the laugh that he just then realized how much he had missed.
"All you need to know is that in the end, I'm glad I was wrong. I wouldn't have it any other way. I prefer you as you currently are... sensei."
Despite all his efforts to prevent it, she secretly began to develop a deep, honest, and undivided affection for him, and him only. She was aware of it, but as the two of them watched the breathtaking view of the sunrise, she suddenly felt insecure. She wasn't sure she could ever manage to gather enough courage and confidence to show her feelings, least of all act on them.
/
Within the next few months, Shirou focused most of his attention on Irisviel's training. Still, during this period of time, he never forgot his main task. He had called his contacts, mainly within the Order of Templars from time to time, and they had been providing him with quite useful information. Whenever he had the chance, he always studied those information to devise the most plausible plans. This time, he was carefully reading the copies of classified documents that belonged to the Germany military, all the while keeping an eye on the girl's training.
He looked up in amusement as jagged pillars of ice rose up at once from the ground all around her proximity. It seemed like she finally succeeded in performing this particularly powerful spell. In fact, it was of the highest level, considering how it acted as a strong defense and dangerous offense at the same time.
After nearly six months, she had become quite proficient in both offensive and defensive high-level magecrafts. Naturally as a homunculus, she possessed a remarkably powerful Magic Circuit that gave her the potential to utilize every kind of magecrafts regardless the level. She had also successfully learned well the advanced hand-to-hand combat technique he thought her in between her main study. This one was by no means an easy process, since her body was not designed for combat, but with her unquestionable will, she managed to overcome this obstacle.
As he was about to come near her to give a well-deserved praise, he noticed the lord of the castle approaching, and turned toward him instead.
"Did you see that, Jubstacheit-dono? We all should be proud of her."
The Einzbern leader looked up at the panting figure in the distance, and surprisingly, a brief but real smile appeared on his stern face.
"I must admit, Father Shirou. I wasn't sure about this at first. However, you once again managed to surprise me. The both of you surprise me greatly. And we are truly proud of Irisviel."
"I am glad to hear that." He sighed. "Still, I couldn't completely get rid of my concern over her safety."
That was definitely a surprise to the elder man. It was the first time he had ever witnessed the incarnated Heroic Spirit expressing worry.
"If I may ask, Father Shirou, why is that?"
"You must've been already aware that in recent years, various subspecies of Grail Wars have been held without much consideration. I am not sure how it has come to be this way. But the fact remains that the practice of summoning Servants has become far more common than intended. It is highly possible that we would face hostile Servants as obstacles in our upcoming endeavor. Now, I am quite confident that I can take on most Servants one on one without much problem, but in case we faced several of them, I'm not sure we could manage without risking Irisviel's life."
Yes, Jubstacheit had been aware of this. Somehow, after the Greater Grail disappearance, the Magus communities all over the world had been trying to create functioning replicas. Obviously, none of them had ever come close to success in recreating the original's miracle, but it wasn't that hard to replicate the Servant-summoning function. He knew that very well.
"Then I suggest we summon a powerful Servant of our own. The Einzberns have been in possession of a vast collection of catalysts for various high-class Heroic Spirits from all over the world. If you please, allow us to show them to you. Hopefully, we would find one that could meet your criteria."
That was almost exactly what Shirou wanted to hear. The Einzberns' services so far had truly exceeded his expectation.
"Servants. We are going to summon two Servants. We have two capable potential Masters after all."
If it's not already obvious, Karna and Tamamo would finally make their appearance next chapter!