well sorry for the wait, haven't had much time to write anything recently with real life/work getting the way preventing me from writing.
I decided here to focus this chapter on Shirou/Mal's Origin and just finding it, still I can't really say that I am overly happy with this chapter only that I could hve done far worse. Still the plot is going though it is progression slowly.
Anyways I hope you enjoy, I will strive to update more frequently.
"To take responsibility is to take pain onto yourself. It means to bear more pain than what others felt because of your mistakes! If you ruined someone's silver tableware, you must repay with gold tableware. The president of a polluting manufacturing plant must live beside the plant's chimney. That's what taking responsibility means. However the people in so-called high positions never see the consequences. When mistakes are made, they will casually bow their heads and apologize. They think that's enough. Are you one of them too?" Toua Tokuchi, One Outs
The moment she laid eyes on the boy Touka Aozaki instinctively knew that there was something else to. The sister of the Fifth Magic wielder could not quite pin it on anything, perhaps it was the calculating look he gave her when their eyes met or the plain emptiness of them. However the Puppet master without a doubt knew that there was something a little if not wholly inhuman to the boy. Idly Touka pondered if Emiya Kiritsugu had seen it, even as he was now Kiritsugu was still the Magus killer not one to be taken lightly by any stretch of imagination. Still either Kiritsugu saw this darkness for better lack of a word in the boy or perhaps she was imagining things, the Former seemed to be more prominent as a possibility than the latter. Despite this Touka saw a vast untapped potential in the boy named Emiya Mal who was the adopted son of the Magus Killer. Potential that if left untapped would be more than just a waste. "Greetings Emiya Mal" she addressed the red haired and amber eyed boy she had noticed the way Mal had addressed Kiritsugu and was interested in why he didn't refer to the man who was raising him as his father. "My name is Touka Aozaki" she introduced herself receiving a nod of confirmation from Mal. it seemed that Mal was extremely mature or at least acted maturely, still while there was what could be called innocence in the boy's eyes, Touka knew that whatever the creature that stood before her was, it definitely was not a child by any stretch of the imagination. Still she had to admit the boy was even more intriguing in person than what Kiritugu had told her.
"Can I get anything for you?" Mal asked in an emotionless voice that didn't surprise Touka, it seemed he was at least acting mature, though Touka had a good suspicion that Mal was not acting, then again Emiya was his foster parent so it wasn't too surprising for Touka.
The Sealing Designate titled "Puppet Master' turned her eyes to the Magus Killer and raised an eyebrow "would you prefer it if we started right away?" Touka asked referring to transferring the Emiya Clan's Magical Crest from Kiritsugu to Mal, it wouldn't too take long.
The last of the Emiya Clan closed his eyes for a moment in contemplation before he answered her "Yes, if that is alright with you It is best to get this done as soon as possible" Kiritsugu informed her, not wanting to delay the transfer as Mal already knew and understood.
Touka nodded in respect for the Magus Killer'ss decision, it seemed that she would get to talk to Mal after she had transferred the Crest, if Touka played her cards right she could get an apprentice from this as the Boy held too much potential to ignore or leave untapped "Very well then" the sister of The Blue began "While this place that you remodelled here is sufficient is there any place here more private?" she asked looking to Kiritsugu, to Touka's surprise it was Mal who answered her instead of Kiritsugu.
"There is my workshop" the amber eyed boy informed her cementing the belief that he was not a traditional Magus as no one that was traditional would let another into their workshop that casually. "But I had just finished practising animating objects there so it may be a little" at this point paused as he searched for a word to use "distasteful" the boy settled on outright admitting he had been doing something less than savoury there though Touka also saw that Mal did not consider what he had done as wrong or less than savoury.
"Animate, objects" Touka swirled the two words Mal said in her head until she came to what seemed to her a logical conclusion; Mal had been practising the branch of Thaumaturgy that he claimed necromancy had stemmed from, or maybe he was trying his hand at necromancy itself, either way Touka decided that if she went there she would find out what he had been up to. Looking at Kiritsugu for confirmation Touka saw him nod as the two of them followed the boy barely into the second half of his first decade to his workshop.
Touka had to admit that even she was slightly disturbed by the boys workshop, not that it had effected the transfer of the Magical Crest that turned out to almost fail due to Mal's body and Circuits almost rejecting it, still Touka was able to the Emiya Clan Magical Crest From Kiritsugu onto Mal without much trouble. What interested her was the workshop that was littered with numerous things, some of witch actually scuttled about or twitched. She also noted that the temperature here was good for preserving organic materials and that Mal had the makings of a Puppet Master with his unique talent for animating objects. That was not his only talent Touka suspected as she had seen his shadow actually for a moment writhe in sync with his pain for the brief moment that his body almost rejected Kiritsugu's Crest. "Perhaps he can manipulate shadows as well" Touka mused as Mal seemed to be one surprise after another, something she wouldn't really want in a student but would like all the same if that made any form of sense to anyone in general whatsoever.
"So Mal" Touka began "how about we have a little talk as one Sealing Designate to a future one?" she suggested with Mal's only reaction was to raise an eyebrow inquisitively and have his eyes flick over to Kiritsugu for less than a moment, still Touka did catch onto this even though she did not see Mal's eyes flicker. "Don't worry Kiritsugu" she addressed the Magus Killer "you can stay if you want" she informed him though Touka knew that Kiritsugu would stay even if she hadn't offered him the choice, even if it was only to watch. "well then" Touka stated as she looked Mal up and down once again scrutinising the boy before her as she remembered something that had been at the back of her mind until this moment. "Let's have a look at your Element and Origin" she stated.
Once again Mal looked to Kiritsugu for confirmation though Touka suspected that was out of respect than need for a second opinion, the child seemed to only be a child in appearance alone, and that was what disturbed her, still Touka's interest had been piqued by Mal and this was one itch that she was willing to scratch, if only for a brief moment or two. It seemed Kiritugu had given the boy or whatever he truly was his consent as the boy gave a regal but polite nod of consent to Touka, who was impressed at his fortitude. Not many would be willing to even try and find their origin or element after just receiving a Magical Crest scant hours ago, then again the boy was far from normal. The fact that Kiritsugu had taken Mal under his wing or at least taken the boy under his care was proof enough.
"Alright Mal" Touka addressed him "first I will inform you that physical contact is required" she explained seeing Mal's eyebrow raise a fraction at this "contact with the skin on your chest" the Puppet Master elaborated gesturing for him to take of his shirt. Mal did so after giving her a slightly suspicious look as he sat down. "Now I want you to clear your mind of everything" Touka explained as she knelt down placing he palm on the centre of his chest and closing her eyes as Mal followed suit. Touka felt herself as she began to shift through the stream of memories for his origin.
Touka saw starlight that was reflected in what she suspected was a scrying pool that appeared to be on a raised dais in the centre of the room she was in, while Touka Aozaki was certainly no dramatic person with that type of flare, she did admit and admire the that fact that it looked like a sheet of inky blackness dotted with many diamonds. There was ripple in the pool of water that disturbed it, it was then that Touka realised there was another here in this place as the watcher of the pool had been disturbed.
What looked like a humanoid with pointed ears similar to one of the fae folk straightened as he saw a shoulder reflected in the settling water, without even pausing the figure spun around delivering a punch the passed through what could be seen as an apparition. This figure also bore some resemblance to the mythical fae folk with the pointed ears. Touka came to the realisation that both these figures were male, the second one was lean of face and dark haired. He now spoke "So it's true what they say" the apparition said as as it steeped through the scrying pool before he stopped at the centre, tracing a line with one finger despite the rest of him being as insubstantial as thought. "Sailors always ready with their fists" this seemed to be light and almost conversational despite the circumstances.
The first figure stepped back, his eyes now narrowed and glanced at the door "the wards" he began "they are no broken" the fist figure referred to as a sailor state. "How did you pass them?" he asked stopping in his retreat as his legs met the edge of a cabinet by the wall. "The loremasters assured me the barrier was inviolable." Touka while would normally would be inclined to scoff at this statement did not because for some reason she felt that she might reveal herself to these beings, whatever they really were.
"Magic can be a tricky thing my friend" the second figure who seemed rather sinister explained. "But you are right, my mother and I tried for many years to breach the warding spells placed on this tower without success." he stated casually. "Trickery, brute strength nothing we tried worked. A shame we didn't have an earlier opportunity to exploit treachery" he informed the other occupant.
"A traitor" the first occupant of the chamber stated regaining his composure, this fact showing in his tone as he comported himself in a manner befitting of a ruler, Touka idly wondered that he might be one even. "A traitor amongst the loremasters of Hoeth? Who could gain by such a thing?" he asked. It seemed from the way that he spoke that such a thing was unheard of or that he was all too trusting of people. Touka assumed the latter, but she suspected that it may have been the former.
"Not quite a loremaster" the second figure admitted "not really."
It seemed that this admission was all that the first figure needed as he breathed a single name more of a statement than a question "Teclis?" he named the tradition as the second figure did nothing to deny who it was.
"I'll grant you this, you are one of the cleverer Phoenix Kings I have killed" the second figure informed the only physical occupant of the room confirming who the Traitor was without even saying it.
"So you intend to kill me" the rooms occupant stated without a hint of doubt in his voice. "It will not help" he stated "my death will bring you no closer to the Phoenix Throne' he explained.
"Actually it does" the apparition corrected him. "Or so I have been told, from a reliable source" he explained striding out of the pool and marvelling at the way the rays of light seemed to pass through his not quite corporeal body.
"Teclis again?" the first figure asked or more like accused a little weary "it was a moment of weakness, assisted by the night I confessed to feeling guilt at our deception" he admitted.
"Deception?" the second figure repeated "Confession? Please continue" he asked smiling or at least the representation of him did. Touka likened this smile to a predator that had caught their prey and was only letting it's quarry think there was a chance of escape.
"You know of what I speak" the first figure who had been referred to by the second as the Phoenix King stated. "The coronation to become Phoenix King" the Pheonix King said "it is a sham" he stated. "I no more passed through the flames of the king of kings than you did." It seemed that whatever was going on here was linked to an age old conspiracy Touka reasoned. Something that most Magus's found delicious, though the sister of the Blue was content enough witnessing the magic being used before her.
"I knew it" the second figure said snapping his fingers his smile now broadened to a grin. "There had to be some reason that made Teclis seek me out." he explained. "He thinks Rhana Dandra is coming you know?" he informed the Phoenix King. "He needs the true heir to Aenarion to sit on the Pheonix Throne, to save elvenkind." the figure who Touka assumed viewed himself as 'the true heir' as he put it said identifying his race to the Magus.
"His brother T-" The false Phoenix King as it seemed began to speak but was swiftly cut off by the second figure.
"Tyrion is useless" the second figure stated "a vacant slave to his lusts for the Everqueen, cursed by the taint of Khaine as pronounced by Caledor DragonTamer." th second figure explained catching Touka's attention with the one mentioned' title, she knew of no Dragon Tamer's even in myth so whoever this Caledor was he had to be extremely skilled, that and powerful."Have you not been paying attention" the second figure asked rhetorically "he even has a child from his rutting, a dirty secret to keep from court."
"Alarielle has borne only me child, Alaithra.' the Phoenix King replied naming both his wife and his supposed daughter.
"Save your lies" the second figure reprimanded him "you know that she is not yours." he explained. "What a noble spirit Tyrion must be" the second figure mocked. "To cuckhold the Phoenix King and sire the next Everqueen? That must be why you never named him as successor, but always spoke well of Imrik though the Prince of Caledor despises you for the most part" he explained. Touka did not know whether he knew of this or was guessing much of it but it seemed whoever this person was, he definitely was enjoying the look of pain that twisted on the other's face as each accusation was made and took further proof. "It gnaws at your heart doesn't it" he asked mockingly."To think that the Dragon Cothique is lauded so highly when in truth he is nothing more than an adolescent, getting into fights and bedding your wife." Touka had no doubt that the second figure was definitely enjoying this. Even you noblest and most worthy of all the princes, even you cannot swallow that shame and accept that failure in your heart." he informed the Phoenix King.
When the physical occupant of the room next spoke it was in a uiet voice, but one that was still heard all the same. "Many times has the marriage and consummation between the Phoenix King an Everqueen been purely" he paused at his before continuing "ceremonial."
"More shame? More Guilt?" the second figure asked clearly interested in what the Phoenix King had to say for himself.
The Phoenix King himself bowed his head, averting his gaze mumbling something that no one present could quite hear.
"Was that an apology or a prayer?" the Phoenix King's to be killer asked "nighter will be heard" the second figure informed him.
"You cannot harm me here" the Phoenix King announced for some reason emboldened, waving his hand back and forth between the apparition's shoulders and then up and down his face. "you cannot trans materialise yourself within these walls, even with Teclis's assistance" he stated. "He has opened a window for you nothing more" the Phoenix King explained. "In fact I would think that Teclis does not want me dead, not yet" he informed the apparition's. "He is right I have seen in the Heavens that Rhana Drandra is upon us. The gods of the stars fall back to the world and the gate of the north opens. The Daemons will be upon us within days and Teclis knows that our people need my leadership" the Phoesnic King stated.
"I cannot say for sure what Teclis intended" the second figure informed the first 'but rest assured I have not hidden my motives' he informed the Phoenix King as the second figure began to make signs in the air weaving jagged runes with the tip of his finger "Well not for this night" he admitted "I will dispense with his alliance as soon as it becomes unnecessary" he informed the Phoenix King referring to Teclis. "Once he has handed me Ulthan's keys, he will find me a less pleasant companion" the second figure stated. "You are correct in your assertion that I cannot lay physical hands upon you, much to my pity" he added. "There are other ways to extend my reach" the Second figure stated.
"What are you doing" the Phoenix King demanded as he moved towards the door. The apparition of the second figure stalked after him whispering what Touka believed to be some sort of spell or enchantment that caused hi floating incantation to form a circle that began to revovle around the scrying pool. While the Sealing Designate had seen and borne witness to many inhuman deeds, her natural instincts screamed more strongly than ever before not to look into what was happening in the pool.
"Dangerous things, windows" the second figure stated as he came between the Phoeni x King and the Door. The Second figure now pointed back to the pool whose waters were now the colour of blood. "The sisters of Ghrond have learned such lessons in very hard circumstances" he informed the physical occupant. "Sometimes other things look back though the windows." It was at this point Touka realised that perhaps she should try and escape this memory. "Also some windows can be opened you see" the second figure stated.
While Touka oly had a vague impression of the implications it seemed the one who had been called the Phoenix King understood all too well. "What have you done" he demanded, his voice chocked as he darted towards side of the pool pool and stared into it's depths.
"Just a little portal" the second figure replied "It won't last long enough to threaten Lothern" he informed the Phoenix King. When said king demanded or more like requested as to where it lead he replied "see for yourself."
As the one called the Phoenix King despite his better judgement leaned over the edge of the pool a hand with red skin and black claws shot out of the blood coloured water and seized him by the throat. The water's boiled as and what Touka could only describe as a demonic figure from Christian depreciations, a horned head emerged slowly, white eyed, fanged mouth open in an ecstatic grin.
"I cannot as you said, transubstantiate my body within these walls" the second figure explained/ "But Daemons rarely have such problems" he informed the now struggling Phoenix King.
"They'll never accept you" the one referred to as the Phoenix King gasped as he pulled himself free of the daemons grasp, tearing bloody welts from across his throat. "Ulthuan will drown in blood before you are hailed as Phoenix King!" he declared.
The second Figure said nothing as the daemon leapt forth from the water, it's hands seizing hold of the Phoenix King while a forked tongue ran across it's razor sharp teeth. The daemon turned to look at the second figure, there was hunger in it's eyes.
Without warning Touka felt herself being pulled away from the memory in a forceful and violent fashion suddenly the Mage found herself on an isle made of black sharp rocks that were jagged and what she suspected might have been obsidian. Before her there was a whirling tempest that sounded like the screeching echoes of dead souls as a light blossomed brightly shining and shadows writhed and twisted like tendrils finding cracks or ledges to seep into. At the centre of the tempest of souls a singular sword burned brightly shining with an impossible light that as it set fire to the obsidian rock it stood in. Touka Aozaki felt a hot gauntleted hand on her Shoulder as a voice similar to the second figure's if not the exact same whispered "you should not be here ape." it said and then once again the Puppet Master found herself thrust unceremoniously away from where she was, this time into the howling wind of souls and the hot fire that burned.
Touka opened her eyes with a jolt to see Mal in front of her his facial expressions unreadable "Are you alright?" he asked in his mature fashion, seeing that Touka not respond he added "is it over?" Mal asked his eyes subtlety flicking down to where Touka's hand rested.
Touka noticed that her hand was still placed on his chest so she retracted it "yes" she replied to his first and second question. "It is over, though there were some things that concerned me" she informed him glancing at Kiritsugu knowing that the Magus Killer should also be told. While at first glance I was unable to discern Mal's origin and element I did see it or what I believe to be a representation of them" the Sealing Designate informed both the Magus Killer and his adopted son, deciding to finish up the business with Mal's Element and Origin for the moment. If I were to try and explain it in a few words I would say that the I would use the term 'highly if not extremely intriguing' to explain it" Touka stated.
"What did you manage to see?" Kiritsugu asked concerned at the way Touka had described what she believed to either be Mal's Origin or his Element, Magus's didn't usually use those words when it was something good.
"Well to put it bluntly after I got through the memory I saw a sword upon an isle of jagged black rocks with the souls of the departed circling, surrounded by shadows and flames." Touka recalled explaining what she had seen. "Also the Sword shone with an unearthly almost divine type of light from what I could make of it" she added as an after thought, I believed that it might be better to discuss this before we jumped to conclusions as I have a feeling that Mal here is very unique" she explained "unique enough for the Mage association to make him into a sealing designate if they even catch a whiff of this." Touka stated. "All this and Mal here hasn't even done anything just yet." It seemed that the Sealing designate dubbed Puppet Master was getting some ideas into her head whether that was a good thing or not depended on the person who saw it's point of view, Kiritsugu was concerned Mal himself was more leaning on the intrigued side of things. Then again Mal was not the best person to care about his own personal safety after all.
"There is more to it isn't there" Mal stated. "Something happened as you did not come back calmly in fact you seemed to reacted as if you were forcibly expelled" Mal informed her casting an imperceptible glance to Kiritsugu to see is he had noticed that part.
Touka Aozaki adjusted her glasses so that they fit perfectly, she was rather impressed with Mal's perceptiveness "let's say the memory I witnessed before I got there was disturbing" she explained. "From what I could make of it you were nowhere in sight she explained. That and when I witnessed what I believe to be either or Element or Origin or possible a combination of the two something threw me out stating that I shouldn't have been there" the Puppet Master explained the bare basics of what she had seen, leaving out what had been happening with the two figures in the memory as she was under the impression that something like that needed to be addressed separately. She had seen enough to realise this fact. Perhaps when Mal was a little older and more 'stable' for lack of a better word.
"Something expelled you" Kiritsugu asked as such a thing was unheard of unless the person whose Element and origin they were attempting to find was uncooperative Mal himself seemed to be more than willing to cooperate but Kiritsugu knew that the boy was next to unreadable when it came to his desires, or perhaps it was because the boy had none that he couldn't be read. No matter while the Magus Killer believed Mal to be honest he knew that Mal was reserved in his opinion of some things, perhaps this was just a bit too personal.
"I take it that something like this only happens if the host is unwilling?" Mal stated more than asked. "I was willing" he stated before Touka or Kiritsugu could comment. Mal himself knew that Touka was avoiding talking about the memory that she had witnessed but decided not to press the issue and instead focussed on what he had already been told. "Ulgu, Shyish, Aqshy and Chamon" he instinctively though not knowing whee the words had come from "Shadow, Death, fFre and Metal" Mal murmured to himself.
"That is very perceptive of you" Touka stated her eyes widening at the Boy as she had not yet realised it, perhaps your origin is a combination of those four" she mused knowing that there were irregular Elements and Origins out there. "Everything I saw was connected to that scene" she mused before her eyes widened in shock realising what that meant. "Impossible" Touka breathed as the implications she knew of sunk in. "Kiritsugu" she said with a serious tone turning to regard the Magus Killer "you said you suspected that he was the son of a Sealing Designate" the Puppet Master stated receiving a nod of confirmation from the Magus Killer. "It is possible that Mal here then may be an incarnation" she explained causing the Magus Killer to raise his eyebrows in surprise.
"An incarnation" Kiritsugu asked knowing of those with Dual Elements and Origins being rare like his own Severing and Binding one, but an Incarnation was relatively unheard of. After all someone who possessed an Element and Origin that was the same was said to be a manifestation of it. This and they would be poor at any other form of Magecraft save their own. Now while Kiritsugu considered himself as a Magic user than a traditional Magus this still was important as the implications were great. If what Touka Aoaki had said was true, (Kiritsugu himself had many reasons to doubt the words that came out of the Sealing Designates mouth) then if Clocktower ever caught the scent of Mal he would definitely be turned into Sealing Designate especially if he had four different unaligned things ass his Element and Origin that matched. While the boy himself seemed to be confident that he could handle whatever came his way, the Magus killer new that it would not only be the Mage Association coming after him if he was indeed an incarnation as 'The Red' had said.
"I suspect so" Touka said looking at the 'work' Mal had in the workshop "there might be a reason he is very talented in this stem of Necromancy and the actual branch of thaumaturgy" she explained. "Though perhaps it would be best if we could get him to test the other three he mentioned" Touka suggested. "Shadow, Fire and Metal" she listed off the other three. "It seems you son was ore interesting than I though" Touka admitted smiling to herself but getting rid of it from the blank look Kiritsugu gave her.
"What does that mean?" Mal asked less confused and more wanting to hear what Touka had to say as he was rather interested in the Sealing Designate before him, knowing that she was dangerous only heightened his curiosity. Self-preservation was not high on the list.
"Well Mal" Touka Aozaki began "how would you consider studying under me for a little bit?" she asked.
So yeah for a short time I will be having Touka teach Mal Thaumaturgy, I am playing around with the idea of him helping Kiritsugu save Illya from the Einzberns but am unsure of how I should proceed just yet so ideas and opinions would be greatly appreciated
I am also considering adding Mal into some of the events of Garden of Sinners (Kara no Kyōkai) but let me know what you think of that as well.
Anyways I would really appreciate it if you left a review with some feedback and ideas or PM if you don't want other's to see it. Still I would appreciate the review more as it is easier to reference when I am writing my next chapter.
Anyways until next time.
