I decided to make Irisviel a bit immature here, considering that in this timeline, it had only been months since her life began.

03


It was rather unexpected. She had anticipated her new Servant would appear again inside her room to greet her as soon as she woke up like what he did yesterday, but he hadn't showed up so far. It didn't surprise her though, because what happened the day before had ended up in complete awkwardness, mostly on his part. Well, the reason was simple. She always found it most comfortable sleeping in nothing but her fairly see-through nightgown.

She was a bit concerned though when she still didn't see him after breakfast. And she knew for certain it was not because he was in his spiritual form. But when she was about to begin looking for him, she spotted him coming her way. He looked different though, very different.

"Why the new looks? Did you suddenly decide to become a priest because of what happened yesterday morning? If so, you didn't have to. I wouldn't have minded even if you saw me completely naked, Ruler."

Her poor Servant's face reddened as he tried to brush off his awkwardness by smoothing out his new all-black priest attire.

"Please, don't say that, Master. It was inappropriate, but the blame lied with me only. Once again, I apologize. It was not the sole reason I decided to try to become a priest of the Church though. I figured this would make me less stand out."

For some reason she couldn't understand, she didn't like that he considered him seeing her naked inappropriate, but she decided to not think too much about it, and took a good look at his much shorter hair instead.

"And the new hairstyle? Don't tell me it's also a part of your 'redemption' attempt."

"Oh, no. It was just, lately I think having a long hair is inconvenience for battles. And I just happened to learn about scissor. Humans' progression in knowledge and inventions is simply astounding."

Ruler's nervousness suddenly increased tenfold because without warning, the girl moved closer to touch his hair. Their bodies ended up so close that their chests nearly made a contact.

"I don't mind it though, your new appearance that is. I admit you look kinda boring now, but at least, this way you don't look prettier than me anymore."

After giving one of the spiky locks a gentle tug, she innocently turned around and left her speechless Servant alone to make sense of what had just happened. This unexpected turn of event had awaken his awareness that despite the exceptional life he had lived through, he was still a teenage boy, and a healthy one at that.

/

Despite all of his disappointment on the human race's downfall, the moral degradation in particular, he had to admit that their progression in knowledge and technology was simply astounding. For the magus society, this of course included the advancement of magecraft.

Since the recent 'trend' of subspecies Holy Grail Wars started, he had been keeping tab on the rapidly evolving Servant-summoning ritual in particular. Nowadays, it was possible to make Servants to be less dependent on their Master or a Greater Grail to sustain their presence. The most advanced, albeit difficult, method even allowed the summoned Servants to directly use the natural Mana all around the vicinity to survive, even though they would still need their Master as an anchor to this world.

On the other hand, the more and more common usage of Servants raised a great concern that it would inevitably lead into conflicts and chaos. Fortunately so far, the Mage's Association had been doing well in their effort to contain this threat by strictly regulating the practices. They had also been actively collecting and safekeeping the catalysts for powerful Heroic Spirits to prevent them from falling in the wrong hands.

He honestly appreciated the Mage's Association's effort, but he was also glad that his new ally was conveniently not affected by it. The Einzberns really did have a remarkable collections of catalysts for various high-class Heroic Spirits. And for a moment, he could only stood silently in the middle of this secret room, gazing in amazement at the unique artifacts being displayed inside expensive glass containers.

Unfortunately, his female companion didn't seem to understand his predicament as she exasperatedly poked his shoulder after failing to gain his attention by calling him multiple times.

"Sensei, don't you know that you look like a kid in a toy store since we entered this room? Not that I've seen one, but that's beside the point." She sighed exasperatedly. "How childish... How old are you actually?"

For a second, he considered making an objection, but then decided against it after seeing her glare.

"Well, I was about seventeen when I died. And it's been around fifty six years since my summoning in the previous war..."

For some reason, she hurriedly stepped back, putting some distance between them as if he was something that a girl should be wary of.

"So... basically... you're an old man... in a teenager body. Is that why your hair turned white?"

Once he understood the reason behind her sudden strange behavior, he couldn't help inwardly weeping in misery.

"Yes. Technically, I am quite old, but my left arm's ability allows me to keep my youthful form. My white hair has nothing to do with it. As I said, it is a blessing. And I know what you're thinking. For God's sake, I am a priest. So please stop looking at me like I were some kind of uh... predator."

"Well, don't think I am not aware of how you look at me when you thought I wouldn't notice. A proper priest would not have such a sinful look at an innocent maiden."

He could only blame his annoyingly permanent teenage hormones that came with his eternal youth.

"My apologies, if I've made you feel uncomfortable, Irisviel. It was not my intention. And if it could make you feel better, I assure you that I have never ever touched a woman inappropriately in my whole existence. Please, trust me."

She then realized that her teasing had gone too far this time. It honestly broke her heart to see him looking so remorseful like that. She usually teased him to cover her own awkwardness around him. Sometimes, it also proved to be rather effective to make him stay oblivious of her hidden feelings.

"Just forget about it, shall we?" She smiled warmly. "Anyway, I actually meant to tell you that I've picked a catalyst for a Caster-class Servant."

In her hand was what appeared to be a golden hair ornament. She showed it to him hesitantly, and he raised an eyebrow at her.

"Interesting choice. Do you know that this piece of jewelry came from my homeland? Why do you chose the Heroic Spirit this catalyst represents?"

"I think it looks pretty. I like it. I suppose I would get along with its owner, because we seem to have the same taste."

Shirou could only gazed at her fondly. This girl just reminded him of her so much. They both had such a simple and innocent way of thinking, the exact opposite of his own. Sometimes, it made him afraid that his broken self would taint her with his sins and darkness just by being in her presence. He would not let it happen, even if it meant that he had to erase his own presence from her life for good.

"Very well. I see that you wish not for a Servant, but a friend. And she would be a dear friend to you."

He was glad, honestly glad that she could finally have her first friend, the first of many. It would be the first step for her to create new bonds with the ones who would treasure her. It would be the beginning of the happy future she so deserved. And when the time came for him to part ways with her, hopefully he could leave with a smile, and she would not look back at him.

Irisviel didn't fail to notice the melancholic look in his eyes. This had happened often enough since she knew him for her to not notice, but she was always afraid to point it out, least of all ask why. Each time, she could only hide her worry and try to cheer him up.

"What's wrong with that? Everyone needs a friend, or else they would end up looking as miserable as a certain priest I know."

"I look that bad huh? But you're right, my lady. Perhaps it is best if I follow your example."

So, instead of deciding which Servant to summon based on who possessed the best abilities for their purpose, he tried to find one who might understand him. Besides, it was no secret that a partnership between Master and Servant would work best if they understood each other, even more so if they shared a common goal. In this case though, just like what Irisviel did, for once he simply wished for a friend.

Before long, he found himself carefully inspecting a spearhead, to be exact, the remnant of the spear wielded by a great hero of Mahabharata in his last battle.

It was an undeniable fact that this particular Heroic Spirit was among the very tops of Servants. As a former Ruler-class Servant, Shirou had enough knowledge that made him sure that no one could beat this magnificent warrior in a fair fight. The combination of the outstanding willpower, skill, strength, experience, and wisdom was simply flawless. But admittedly before this, he had never considered this option, because he used to think that what he needed was a convenient Servant, not a powerful one.

This time, he seriously took a moment to understand about this great hero's life. An abandoned child who bravely walked a treacherous path, a path where he ended up being viewed as a villain by his own blood relatives. It all culminated with unfairness and tragedy, but he died with no regret because he never wavered in his chosen path, and always stayed true to his self. What a truly admirable person.

With a newfound realization, Shirou felt himself wishing to meet this strange but utterly inspiring hero and learn from him. And the decision was made.

It didn't surprise Irisviel one bit to see his choice as he showed it to her with a smile.

"An old rusty thing, just a shadow of its former self, but still somewhat dangerous... a very fitting choice for you, sensei."

Wait, why did it seem like she just described her opinion of him?

"Thank you, I guess. Don't think that the state of this catalyst resembles the Heroic Spirit it represents though. I know he would be an amazing Lancer."

"You wish to summon a Lancer? I heard they have the worst luck. Hmm again, very fitting for you, I guess."

Now that he thought about it, she made a good point, as absurd as it was.

"By that logic, Amakusa Shirou should've been qualified as a Lancer-class. He just needs to get a spear."

"That depends. The priest Amakusa Shirou I'm currently speaking with? No objection there. The handsome original one? I have to disagree. His majestic appearance alone makes him perfect as a Ruler-class."

Sometimes, he couldn't help but felt that back then, she just wanted to have someone to bully when she said she preferred him just as he was.

"If you like him that much, why don't you choose that Ruler as your Servant then? I think it is possible. In fact, if later you wished to marry him, this priest could help you with that."

"Sensei... Are you jealous?"

There was nothing more absurd than his current predicament. He would sooner die than admit that he was indeed somewhat jealous of his past self.

"Nope. I merely can't fathom how awkward it would be."

"Don't worry. I'm afraid I would be too nervous around him to do anything productive if I had him as a Servant. So, it'd be best if I settle for a Caster."

Deciding that she had teased him more than enough already, Irisviel walked out of the room with a satisfied smile on her face. She didn't miss Shirou's silly display of jealousy. It was so wonderful to know that he liked her as a woman at the very least. Her tactic had proven to be unexpectedly effective. All she needed to do was to keep it up until she could figure out if he felt something more about her.

It didn't take him long to catch up with her, and the two walked side by side in comfortable silence toward the castle's chapel where they planned to hold the summoning ritual.

The Einzbern's leader himself had given the honored guest a full authority over the mission. So, all the technical details of the plan had been left to him while the elder man continued to tend to the family matters. And this compromise was exactly what both parties preferred.

All preparations had been done beforehand, so the two could immediately proceed with the main task. Shirou decided to do it first so Irisviel could witness the actual practice before she did it herself. As expected, the Einzbern's Servant summoning ritual was even better than the the most advanced method known to public. And he couldn't be more pleased when a magnificent figure appeared in front of him, showing that the ritual was a success.

"Welcome, the brave warrior Karna."

"It is not often that someone calls me as what I actually am, instead of the son of Surya or all other gaudy titles. I am honored to meet you, Master."

The priest smiled warmly, but was rather surprised when he found his female companion standing much closer to him than he noticed earlier.

"Likewise. Please, just call me Shirou. And the young lady over here is Irisviel."

"As you wish." The Servant paused for a second. "Is it safe to assume that the two of you are a couple?"

The girl gasped before quickly putting some distance between her and her secret crush, all the while trying to hide her blushing face.

"Not a chance."

"You heard the lady." Shirou chuckled a bit. "A mere priest like me could never hope to match a breathtaking maiden such as her."

Lancer raised an eyebrow at that. He could clearly tell that there was a mutual romantic affection between the two youths. So he wondered why they behaved so strangely. Perhaps this was how adolescents of this era preferred to pursue a relationship? Still, he felt the need to voice his opinion.

"Back in my time, if a man and a woman were interested in each other, they didn't hold back, and one or two progeny would be born soon after."

Well, nothing could make things more awkward. Shirou realized too late that his new Servant in actuality didn't possess a remotely decent communication skill.

"Well... that is an interesting information. We're glad to have you, Karna."

He then awkwardly took a glance at Irisviel, trying to tell her that it was her turn, but he just found it difficult to talk to her at that moment. Luckily, she got the message. And with a barely contained awkwardness, she moved to her designated spot to perform the ritual.

It wasn't a surprise that she succeeded on her first try since she had become an expert in magecraft. But she suddenly felt rather anxious, and instinctively returned to her earlier spot beside Shirou.

As the Caster-class Servant made her appearance, her gaze immediately settled on the taller white-haired man. And she smiled brightly in delight.

"Ooh, I've never seen such a handsome man! I'm so lucky. You must be my Master! I think I just fell in love. Please, let me be more than just a Servant to you!"

Irisviel felt kinda betrayed that her Servant and potential friend failed to recognize her. Shirou regretted that being a Ruler didn't give him any insight into other Servants' personalities to prepare him for such a situation. Lancer on the other hand, pondered deeply why people not from his era were so weird.

"I suppose this one's intelligence is somewhat lacking. Just by my appearance alone, isn't it obvious that I can't possibly be her Master?"

The gleeful air around Caster shattered instantly, and tears began to gather in her eyes as she stared at Lancer pleadingly.

"Um di- did I do something wrong, Master? Please, give me a chance... I'll do anything for you!"

Thankfully, the priest took pity on the poor Servant, even though personally he also couldn't believe her obliviousness.

"Ahem. Tamamo no Mae, right? Please, look over here. You may call me Shirou, and this lovely young lady beside me is your Master. Her name is Irisviel."

"I'm sorry I'm not handsome enough for you, Caster."

Without another word, the miffed Master took her leave.

Being left with two Servants who were basically polar-opposites to each other, Shirou wondered what he had done wrong. Is this what happened when he made decisions mostly based on emotions? Seriously, it appeared like he just formed the worst possible team for a mission of great importance. The tension in the air didn't help at all, and he could only sighed tiredly.

"Alright. The two of you deserve to know the reason behind your summoning. It's not exactly for a Holy Grail War, but our objective here is still the Grail itself. The Greater Grail has been missing since the end of the previous war, and now it is our duty to recover it. May we work well together."

As expected, Lancer could process the news easily with his cool mind, unlike Caster who still looked too troubled to think clearly.

"To me, that sounds more interesting and challenging than the usual war. Regardless, as my Master you have my loyalty, Shirou."

And for the first time, the priest witnessed firsthand how reliable and inspiring this great hero really was.

"Thank you. I really appreciate it, Lancer. I will do my best to not disappoint you." He paused to glance at the other Servant. "And what about you, Caster? We would understand if you wish to call off the contract."

"I... I wish to talk to her. She seems like a nice girl. I hope we could still be friends... Iris and I."

"That's good to hear. She is a wonderful girl, kind, and forgiving. You can find her somewhere in the castle. And please, make yourself at home, both of you. We have four days until we depart. Hopefully, we'd be better acquainted in the meantime."

Didn't want to waste any more time to start looking for her real Master, Caster left the chapel hurriedly. Lancer and his Master on the other hand, decided to stay for a while longer to further discuss about the plan and the preparation needed to be done.

/

During her life, Tamamo had barely any experience dealing with younger girls. And it's simply not her specialty to be the 'adult' among her groups. There was also the fact that she much preferred boys than girls for obvious reasons. She had a bad tendency of instinctively seeing other females as rivals. Still, if her new Master was as wonderful as what the priest said, maybe it would be okay for Caster to just be her usual self?

It was decided then that she would simply approach the girl directly, and cheerily of course. That is if she could find her...

The Einzbern castle was too huge for Caster, not to mention confusing. She was not familiar with the layout of western buildings, least of all one with this size. The day had come to an end, she had searched even outside the castle, but she still hadn't found her Master. It was rather late for her to realize that she could just ask the castle's servants instead of running past them in hurry. And of course, they could help her.

At last, thanks to one of the maids' help, she finally found the pretty girl standing alone in the main hall, gazing longingly at a life-size painting of a teenage boy with a long black ponytail.

"Ooh, what a cute boy! Oh, he seemed to be from my homeland too, judging from his attire... but I don't know him. Who is he? Your lover?"

Unimpressed, Irisviel only spared the cheery woman a brief glance before letting out a sigh.

"I wish." She returned her gaze back at the painting. "His name is Amakusa Shirou Tokisada."

"Shirou? Hmm I've heard that name recently... Oh! That boring priest's name is also Shirou!" She gasped. "Wait... No way! They couldn't be the same person, could they?! I mean, the one in the picture looks so charming..."

The younger girl giggled cutely, and it made the Servant feel so relieved.

"It's hard to imagine, isn't it? That sensei used to look like this in the past. He has changed a lot, maybe even beyond just in appearance."

"Huh? Sensei?"

"Well, he's been kind of my teacher. I don't like it that much though. Don't get me wrong. I'm really grateful to him for teaching me so many things, but I couldn't stand how he treats me like a child sometimes. I just..."

Caster smiled knowingly as she listened to the confession. She could fully understand her young Master's predicament.

"You want him to see you as a woman. I get it. You like him, don't you?"

"Very much so... More than I could even comprehend."

"Well, we've only interacted briefly, but it seems so obvious to me already that he cares a lot about you."

Irisviel's gaze never left the painting, but surprisingly she seemed to be barely paying any attention to it anymore. A sad smile graced her lips.

"He cares about everyone. That's just the way he is. Really, I wouldn't be surprised if that is the sole reason he's being nice to me, not because I actually mean something to him."

"How could you think like that? You two have known each other for a while, right? Have been living together too, I assume."

"That is true. The thing is, he knows everything about me, save for my true feelings that is. I, on the other hand, only know barely more than what is written in the books about him. Maybe he doesn't trust me all that much after all."

Then to the homunculus girl's surprise, the Caster-class Servant enveloped her in a warm embrace. She was simply stunned. No one had ever done this to her. And she had never imagined that it could feel this comforting.

"Wha- What is this, Caster? I-I've been nothing but rude to you. I don't deserve this..."

"Nonsense! I get it now. I get why that boring priest seems so fond of you." She sniffled a bit. "I'm so sorry. Since the beginning, I already got the feeling that you might be my Master, but I dismiss it. Forgive me for not believing that such a precious girl like you could be my Master."

"Admittedly, I am also in the wrong here. My petty entitlement has caused an unnecessary drama. I selfishly expected that you must acknowledge me as a friend just because I am your Master. But now, I realize that is not the correct way to gain a friend."

Caster just couldn't take it. She hugged the girl tighter, all the while rubbing her cheek against her head in adoration.

"You just wanted us to be friends? Awww! You're just too adorable! I can't believe I chose that scrawny jerk over you!"

And for the first time in their blooming friendship, the two girls laughed freely together.

"Why the name calling, though? You seemed to be completely smitten with Lancer earlier."

"It's the truth. How dare a scrawny guy like him acts like a total jerk!" She sighed. "But it's also true that I was instantly smitten with his looks... and maybe still am? I just couldn't help it, you know. I mean, it must be against the law of nature itself that a man could be that gorgeous. Too bad his personality alone makes him even more unappealing than your priest. Oops! No offense, Iris."

"None taken." She returned her gaze at the painting again. "To be honest, it all started with this portrait. I know it might sound silly, but since the first time I laid my eyes on it, I always feel a strange connection with it. And after meeting the real person, this feeling only intensifies, like there's some kind of resonance between... our fates. Does it even make sense?"

That was a bit too much to take for Tamamo's mind, because in her opinion, romance is supposed to be open and... romantic.

"A resonance... of fates, huh? Oh, I know! You mean the two of you are soulmates?"

If only it was that simple, that they were simply destined for each other like in the stories, Irisviel would be the happiest woman ever.

"Um that sound too cheesy if you put it that way. I guess what I'm trying to say is all that happen to us personally might significantly affect each other's fates. It's hard to explain. You see, I even feel responsible for his transformation somehow, but that's just ridiculous. He has lived far longer than I."

"Don't think too much about it. If you honestly love him, you just need to make him love you back. It's that simple. And you know what? Your Servant is here to help you. We're friends now, aren't we?"

The girl could only hug her new friend back. It ended up much better than she ever imagined. She couldn't believe it. She officially had a friend, and what a wonderful friend she had earned.

/

Shirou spent the early evening before their departure the next day in the garage. Yes, that was right, a garage. Since his arrival six months ago, he had the Einzbern castle installed with every necessities to help with his task. This included modern technologies such as telephones and a fax machine for easier communication with his contacts. And of course, they needed a car for obvious reason. Considering that they were going to begin their journey early in the morning, he needed to make sure that the red sedan was ready.

He learned to drive from his foster father back when they still met frequently from time to time. Though to this day, he still remembered the late afternoons they spent together driving the older man's grey Corolla on the empty mountain roads. Since then, automotive had become some sort of hobby to him.

He liked cars, but in the past, had never found a reason to buy one for personal use. So, it was only normal that as soon as he deemed it necessary to have a car, he immediately bought one of his favorite models, with his own savings of course.

The time he spent with his new car was always enjoyable. He was basically done though, and ready to call it a day. That was when he saw his Servant appeared nearby with a surprisingly curious expression.

"Well, you are actually qualified as a Rider-class too, Karna. It's only natural for you to be interested in cars."

"This is inevitable. What is it called, Shirou?"

The boy couldn't help but smiled proudly as he put his hand on the high performance car's hood.

"This is the new BMW E28 M5, one of the fastest road-going car ever."

"Interesting. How much power does it have?"

The smile widened.

"Approximately, 286 horsepower."

Lancer's eyes widened slightly in surprise. It was far from easy to surprise him, but a simple fact about this car had done such a near impossible feat.

"Most impressive. To think that this man-made vehicle holds the equivalent power of 286 horses..."

"I know, right? This car has a relatively benign appearance, but inside, it possess all the potential to destroy the ones of higher classes."

The Servant looked pointedly, but surprisingly at his Master instead of the car he just admired.

"A good representation of the owner then."

The priest stiffened briefly, but it was hard to notice, and he resumed his friendly behavior almost instantly.

"Can I take it as a compliment, Lancer?"

"Be my guest, but it was merely an observation. I have no intention of keeping anything from you, Master. I will answer if you feel the need to question me."

To be fair, Shirou could not sense any traces of antagonism from his Servant. He could only blame it on his own over suspicious habit. For so long, he had lived his life on guard. So, it was only natural for him to be extra careful around someone who had the ability to see through excuses and deceptions like Karna. It was time to stop though. He needed to learn to trust again, and this noble hero before him definitely more than deserved his trust.

"It's all good. If you may, I wish to hear more of your observation, Karna."

"Very well. From your presence alone, you resemble a Heroic Spirit more than a human. And despite your bright persona, there is a deep darkness within you. You have been keeping it in a tight leash so far, but it still influences your judgement to some extent."

It was very rare for Shirou to talk about himself with others, but he supposed there was no better person than Karna to have this conversation with.

"Your Discernment of the Poor skill is truly impressive. This person you're talking with is an incarnated Ruler-class Servant from the previous war." He chuckled mirthlessly. "Tragedies in the past had fueled me with enough hatred to make me even qualified as an Avenger-class. I have forsaken my hatred filled heart, but the darkness has already taken roots within my soul. Nevertheless, I will not let the evils within me prevent me from achieving something good."

"Admittedly, hatred is something I've never felt personally. However, light and darkness, good and evil, do not hold that much relevance to me. They are parts of this world, just like anything else. In fact, I commend you for your constitution and effort to stay true to your goal despite everything, Shirou."

"I envy you though, Lancer. To be naturally free of hatred, I can't even fathom how wonderful that might be. I truly admire how you always carry yourself with earnestness and pride."

That statement really took Lancer by surprise. People usually envied and praised him for his power and standing. He had never expected that his traits that were normally disliked by others could ever be found admirable. This made him further interested in this conversation with his Master.

"And what is preventing you from doing the same?"

"Anxiety, insecurity, guilt... the common flaws of humans. Just like most people, I don't want others to see my flaws."

"You're not being completely honest. The only one you're trying to prevent from seeing your darkness is none other than Lady Irisviel."

The girl's face appeared on Shirou's mind, and he couldn't help but to smile fondly.

"That is true. But not because I'm afraid she would hate me." He made a pause. "Despite all my effort to prevent it, she has become too close to me, again. Seeing how broken I actually am would be too much for her. I don't want to disappoint her. I don't want her to feel betrayed. I don't want her to be sad."

"That is understandable, but pardon me, Master. That is not for you to decide. Lady Irisviel has the right to make her own decision. And I don't see her as someone who would betray her heart to avoid the risk of getting hurt."

"You are right." Shirou sighed wearily. "It's just, I refuse to fail her. Not again."

Honestly, Karna doubted that he had ever really experienced love, but he could tell when someone else was in love.

"You value her greatly."

"More than anything. To be honest, I can even see myself giving up my lifelong ambition, the one thing that keeps going for so long, the sole reason of my existence, without a second thought for her sake."

The Servant took a moment to observe his Master further. And he could catch a glimpse of the boy's unimaginable potential hidden deep within his soul. It was questionable whether said potential could ever be unleashed or not, but it would be wise to consider.

"Then her choices would decide whether you end up as a savior or a harbinger of the end. It would be inevitable. She is the author of your destiny, Shirou."


What Irisviel and Shirou talked about earlier was Shirou's actual luck, not the one in his parameter.

About the advancement of Servant-summoning methods, it is for plot reason. In this AU, I want to portray that it had been made possible to utilize Servants as weapons in general, not only limited as a component of grail wars.

I tried to explain everything as best as I could, but if there's any question, feel free to ask!