Soul-Tweaking
Ten years.
Aoko Aozaki has been in Europe for ten years.
Having gotten the downpayment of 25 million yen to start her job and at 1985, got the remaining 25 plus another 50 million yen. Then in 1990, another 50 million.
Her parents were baffled that she's earning so much in so little time.
'Aoko dear, we know we're Second Owners and wealthy in our own right, but what exactly IS your job?! Not even Freelancers earn as much as you!' her father exclaimed, wide-eyed.
'Well, I got hired for a big job that lasts until it's over.' said Aoko with a shrug. 'My client's insanely generous.'
The Aozaki administers the greatest spiritual land of Japan.
They have quite the annual income from the patents, earning 900 million yen a year while the Tohsaka only earns 300 million a year from Clock Tower.
This made Touko 'quite reckless with money' while Aoko had more sense, that the parents restricted Touko to '300 million a year in your Magecraft Pursuit and no more than that! Learn how to budget, Touko!' was their words as their children can dip into the family's vast coffers as needed as Magi.
That, and the Aozaki's have twin sons since, as Touko can never marry, having turned her body into a puppet and Aoko just isn't interested in anyone yet, but 'she's getting on in years!' Aoko would tell her parents she's only 28!
The twin sons were born in year 1989.
Aoko was glad she has two younger brothers, meaning, she's not pressured to marry anyone anymore. Nope, no siree!
It helps that her little brothers, are born even more prodigious than Touko. 50 EX-class Circuits. A never-before-seen precedent, considering the Aozaki only has six generations when Magi practiced blood thickening to achieve such results in the future. Yet they got it in such a short time? Her parents were in utter glee and tried again!
Truly, the Aozaki deserved the 'troublesome' reputation.
The prideful clans were reportedly, frothing at the mouth.
It threw the Association into a loop, as not even the Aristocrats had children with such quality of Circuits.
Normally, Magus Families only have one child, one heir policy but the Aozaki never cared about what westerners believe how it should be done anyway.
Aoko, being Clan Head, found herself approached by Tohsaka Tokiomi to secure his second daughter, Sakura's future since he already had one heir.
'Eh, sure, why not? We have rare decent families around.' said Aoko. 'But in turn, your family itself must raise Sakura aware of her position and send her to my parents at age 13. Teach her the Fundamentals and let her pursue her chosen fields while your heir keeps the family arts as her inheritance.'
With the deal sealed, the elder of Aoko's twin brothers, Mikage is Sakura's Fiancee.
Aoko unwittingly saved Sakura from a grisly fate...unaware that the birth of her twin brothers was orchestrated by Alma herself.
That wasn't the only thing Alma had a hand in...there's a consequence to saving Sakura.
If Sakura didn't become Makiri's Grail by Zouken's design, he would make HIMSELF the Grail and he is a very dangerous opponent as a magus alone, as a Black Grail he was an even worser enemy that would warrant the Counter Force's visitation for sure. So she created a failsafe.
This world that had Alma in it, interfered with births too.
Tohsaka Rin who was born an Average One with 40 Circuits and Sakura who has the same number of Circuits was born with Imaginary Numbers and inherited her mother's Sorcery Trait has a quality that was S-Class, a class Magi didn't use as Classification since they went straight to EX. Tokiomi had no idea how to classify their 'unusually incredible prowess' at all! He could not raise both, hence, married Sakura off for her protection under a Magus Family with a Magician in it as nobody will dare cross a Magician. He was just glad Aoko agreed to the deal.
The boy who would become Emiya Shirou...was born a prodigy as well, since he miraculously has 27 C-Class circuits for a first-gen magus as his original existence, a never-before-seen miracle when an average magus has 20 Circuits or lower than that for first-gens. Quality is also a factor. Someone like him should have 'piss-poor quality he'd be drinking buddies with Waver Velvet' but alas, there was interference.
But because he didn't come from any magical lineage, not much Alma can do but she can at least, tweak the quality. She can do that before his soul inhabited his body when his mother conceived him. As a Soul, she can alter him before he enters a body after which, modifications are impossible as the soul merges with the body and by rule, its impossible to alter one's soul within the body and should you succeed anyway, you pay a steep price in turn. She made him an EX as well...and made him discover magic the way her mother had, in order to get his body used to magic. Typical Magus Training, of course. While keeping it a secret from his parents who clearly have no relations whatever to Magi.
To accomplish these...editions, Alma reaches into the Root, where souls go to. She takes the Magic Circuits of their souls there, switching it around and giving it to those needed in the future. She was able to do this, because her Origin that she activated herself, was Soul when originally, not even anyone else connected to the Root can do what she could. With her Origin, she can affect Souls how she wants it. Editing your existence before birth to make you a great magus? Destroy soul-binding Contracts and Geasses? And she has access to Heaven's Feel, making her the Third Magician, obtaining the Einzbern's long lost art as a result.
Her fellow magicians have long known of her existence but no idea who as she hid because as a child, she was defenseless and weak. She waited until her stamina and endurance levels were ideal by taking up sports in school. The only one who knows was Aoko. And last she checked, Clock Tower was in a tizzy, especially the Einzberns who were horrified that an outsider, has their precious art and they want to know who damnit!
This caused a great anomaly in the future, as future Shirou who became EMIYA found his memories having additions. His existence was also altered because of this.
He also met Future Alma. A woman older than him. He could tell, but she was youthful in appearance.
'Hello, Mr. Counter Guardian.'
'You...you did something.' he gasped out. 'I knew...somehow!'
'Yes...but before you disappear as you wished, you have one last job.' said Alma. 'Then you are free. You'll understand that job when you're summoned for the Fifth War, OK?'
EMIYA could not believe it.
He had planned and planned, but salvation came to him anyway.
He felt...liberated.
Thus, he would wait.
Wait for his freedom.
But how the hell did a Magician free him from his Contract?
Wait...she's more than a Magician...she was 'something more and far scarier'. But thankfully, on the good side. His contract that made him reject his ideals, was destroyed at long last.
Tears welled up in his eyes, and sobbed hard.
xxx
Finland...
Alma grew up to teenagehood, after which, her parents left to join the Battlefield again, leaving her in charge of the family as the de-facto Family Head despite her young age.
At fourteen years old, she paid the burning Fuyuki City a visit to fix 'the distortion' caused by Angra Mainyu that created EMIYA in all Parallel Worlds. He still lost his memories of his past, but the training was there, so she made him remember how to reach his Magic Circuits...and then let Emiya Kiritsugu find him, and raise him well. To give birth to Zouken's most powerful enemy. She also messed with Kiritsugu herself by protecting his magic circuits and the portion of Crest he has as it was all she could do for him but his death is still inevitable due to the curse.
Such a task caused her considerable stress.
Her final task, before leaving the work to adults, was to hunt down and destroy Voldemort's Horcruxes. Destroying his immortality. She snuck to where Voldemort was, having taken to sleeping in a cave and pulled out his soul out of his pet snake while the pair slept and destroyed it before it can even scream.
'Well, you are no longer my problem...and that Prophecy? Shall now be invalid.'
With a snap of her fingers...she caused a ruckus in Hogwarts.
xxx
Hogwarts...due to war, the Tri-Wizard Tournament never happened, in fear of International Issues. Thus, it was a normal school year.
It was dinnertime when it happened.
Trelawney was in a trance, her eyes glowing white and 'propped up' as if she were a puppet on strings.
It will happen tonight! she spoke in a voice that freaked out the hall as Albus and Snape knew this was a prophecy being made. She who governs souls has punished he who committed the ultimate crime of life! He who is immortal, is mortal once more...but terrible punishment awaits him for his folly...for he can never know rest nor rebirth ever again! The terrible cost of committing the ultimate crime to one's soul...is a steep price to pay!
And Trelawney collapsed.
'W-what just happened?' Professor Sprout squeaked as the students were stunned, shocked.
'That my dear, is a Prophecy only a Seer can do.' said Albus grimly while his mind raced as to whom it referred to.
'You mean she's no fraud?!' Fred Weasley yelled.
'Professor Trelawney is no fraud, she's a good teacher!' Lavender Brown shrieked in defense of her favorite teacher.
Albus can only chuckle.
'Witches and Wizards with Seer powers have no control over that particular gift Mr. Weasley.' Albus lectured. 'Magic itself, will possess them and speak through the Seers as their mouthpieces, and speak the prophecies they foretell.' he explained. 'They thus, are magically exhausted afterward and do not remember a thing after possession. Even if you were to ask Sybill, she will deny having done it due to having no memory of it. Now, onward to dinner children.'
"I gotta report this at home." Neville thought.
He wasn't the only one, a lot of owls flew home that night after dinner.
Naturally, it hit the Prophet, making the whole community get into a tizzy as they wondered who was this 'she who governs souls' who punished 'he who committed crimes to his own soul'.
xxx
Winter of 1994...
Kiritsugu Emiya adopted the boy he calls Shirou after taking his daughter back by force. Because no other family came for him, and he didn't want to go to the orphanage, really.
He was also attracted to becoming a Magus.
Doesn't help that the boy has powerful circuits and he could activate at will. His family must have been magi before the clusterfuck he caused.
And he can't leave the boy defenseless, he'd be dog food if discovered. Illya was happy her brother was as strong as she was(she is a bunch of random Magic Circuits put together given human form, and Shirou has few, but EX-quality Circuits)Shirou's only weakness was how limited he was, and the mana he can dish out was limited to his Circuits while Illya was a walking disaster by herself because she has an enviable mana output. In effect, when both gave it all they got, the potency and strength, was equal. The only difference was the size of environmental damages caused.
27 Circuits = less damage to environment.
Several hundred Circuits = huge damages, 1/20 of Fuyuki if Illya went all out.
However, in the month Kiritsugu left Shirou with Avalon, the boy was...drastically-altered.
He used to have the element of Wind, but altered by Avalon, making his element AND origin a Sword.
What had he done? This boy's talent and potential, ruined by him!
He experimented with what could he learn.
Only a few, making him a specialized spellcaster. He can only teach the other things academically. The way his master and foster mother Natalia taught him.
He didn't tell Illya and Shirou the truth of why he was the way he was. Shirou accepted the cold hard facts sadly. Because there's nothing he can do about it anyway.
xxx
Year 1997...
Alma graduated Compulsory Education.
She was now pondering her future.
'Hummm what to do...' she wondered aloud. Go to Vocational School or Clock Tower?
While her parents were out, she taught her younger siblings how to use magic wandlessly instead of having to wait for 11 years old just to cast spells. And she only taught the most useful spells in Transfiguration, Charms, Healing, Protection Spells, Jinxes, Hexes and Curses. She only teaches Potions on weekends.
Their parents would come home for Christmas, asking them how well they did under their sister.
'YOU STARTED THEM YOUNGER THAN 11?!'
'I don't see why not.' Alma shrugged. 'Its at a young age when kids are closer to magic. Because we children are creative and open-minded...but as we grow into adulthood, we lose those two most important traits when one has the power called magic. In layman's terms, 'your mind makes it real', combine with your own power and there you go.' she said with a snap of her fingers. 'And since buying wands is a security risk due to the Trace being active in Scandinavia...show em', kids!'
Thus to Lily and James' disbelief, their younger brood were doing magic wandless and can perform many tricks easily.
'See?'
'...h-how?'
'Well, given the fact that too much inbreeding causes magical stagnation and deterioration, its safe to say Purebloods declared self-serving laws to save their non-existent dignities.' Alma drawled with an armfold. 'When magic is meant to be used this way in the first place. Wandless magic has much more freedom and control as well as efficiency in usage.'
'Wow...' Lily croaked out. 'Wandless magic was how its done all along?'
'Most likely, I can clearly believe what Alma's saying at this point.' said James dryly. 'Oh yeah, you're also the magic tutor to Padfoot's kids right?'
'Only when it's summer vacation.' said Alma. 'Potions Lessons only but Aunt Miranda's supervising and damage control aid. Padfoot's working for Scandinavian Ministry now n'all.'
Indeed, Sirius had to quit working for the British Ministry and work for Scandinavia instead as its impractical to use International Portkeys back and forth, to quote his father-in-law.
Alma also decided to make her debut as the Third Magician.
'Hey Aoko.' Alma appeared beside Aoko who was eating some roasted meat by a campfire.
'Yo. My job's almost done since I hardly see my trophies now.' said Aoko. 'Clock Tower went crazy when I sold captured Werewolves, Giants and Ogres to them for sale. The Magi reacted like they got shiny new toys and shit.'
'Yes. From what I hear, the Creature Tribes shunned HIM because he is a harbinger of death, not prosperity as he promised. So without his Death Eaters on top of that, he is alone and helpless, living in a cave.' Alma chuckled darkly. 'Families of Death Eaters took to using the Fidelius because their relatives are in prison, crimes made public they can't even show themselves in public anymore, cursing they ever supported 'that man'.'
'Taboo still on huh?'
'Yup.'
'I don't get that he's all alone, weak and no support they still fear his name. Let's kill him ourselves.' said Aoko as she got Starmine and Starbow ready.
'OK. Voldemort!' this instantly summoned Voldemort to them and he saw a young woman and a young girl.
'Wha-'
'Die.' was Aoko's cold-hearted word as he was torn to shreds in an instant with Aoko's magic.
They kept the head intact because...they stabbed the head on a pike, and planted said pike ala harpoon striking the streets of Diagon Alley...
'With this, it's over.' said Alma. 'I should tell you why his name was feared. Voldemort, or Tom Marvolo Riddle, was a charismatic man and he knows full well the power of Fear. He manipulated many people in his pursuit of power, to become the greatest Dark Lord as he puts it. In his ego while pursuing power, he didn't realize what he threw away. Which was a good thing...because had he kept a much useful future as a politician and reigned as a tyrant, he could have become the Dark Lord he wanted. However, thankfully, his knowledge of the world was limited yet his knowledge in magic, human and creature exploitation and manipulation was very high.' she told Aoko.
'He was a man born out of an union without love, born out of Love Potions and grew up a childhood hated, and later feared making him who he was today.' Alma continued. 'He was unable and unwilling to express remorse or empathy for the countless crimes he had committed.'
'So that's the sort of man he was. A thirsty fool.' Aoko muttered as they watched as people incredulously ogled the pike. Along with a large paper with writings Alma stuck to it, in large black font calling out Wizarding Britain for one bit of stupidity that prolonged the war.
'Yup. Well, you ended up doing their damn job, I'm embarrassed to say my people lacked common sense.' Alma sighed, in utter shame. 'If not for the Root, I too, would be just like them due to upbringing.' and she paid Aoko one last time, conjuring a suitcase of money.
'By the way, where do you exactly get your cash?' Aoko wondered. 'Been wondering for years.'
'Straight off the Mints, before they can count the money produced upon filling the required quota by the World Bank and Japanese Government, so naturally what I'm paying you, was not missed at all.' Alma giggled. Aoko gave her a what-the-hell look on her face. 'Well, time for my debut in Clock Tower as they wanted to know who the Magician of Third is.'
'The Einzberns are pissed you know.' Aoko pointed out. 'The other three sensed you in 1980, right when I became a Magician.' but she was a no-show for years, when Zelretch approached Aoko and introduced her to Clock Tower as the Magician of Fifth.
'I should care why?' came Alma's flat question.
'Point. C'mon, I'm introducing you, so take us to Clock Tower.'
They vanished, camp gone, but leftovers of meat...was there.
But not even animals dared to touch Aoko's leftovers, as she was an object of fear to them.
Animals can sense these things after all.
