It was one of the moments in which Penemue found enjoyable, spending a heartwarming drink with Shirou Emiya. A 'third-rate hack of a magician' as he would like to be called and an oddity amongst the people that she met. Maybe it was the borderline of physical attraction that led her to spend most of her time with him. But as an Angel who cures the hearts of men, Penemue can see through the façade smile that the redhead puts on show.
"So when Azazel told me his plan to make the Most Beautiful Woman of Heaven as a Fallen, I told him to just forget about it. Once she became one of us, every man in the Grigori would want the first dibs on introducing the deadly sins to her."
"Well... chaos will ensure once that happens."
Shirou poured some of the wine in the glass of Penemue, the cadre Fallen Angel twirled the drink in her hands. A fulfilling silence settled between them as he looks at Penemue whose face is already reddening from the wine she is drinking. As for him, he can still go on and not be drunk no thanks to the many drinks that he had share.
"Tell me... what do you think of me? Not as the secretary of a faction but as Penemue?" The look in her eyes was full of hope that he would say the words she wanted to hear. Shirou recollects the times that he and Penemue share to make a proper assumption.
"You are a kind woman for letting me, a random stranger to have this home." Penemue smiled inwardly at his words. "But there are times when I feel uncomfortable when you're around me. Your spike of power reminds me of several people whom I fought once."
"Oh my, are you somewhat a hard-headed person?" Penemue only wanted it to be as some kind of a joke but his response holds some steel on them.
"It depends, if I ever want to protect something or... someone, I'll do whatever I can to protect it. Even if the world becomes my enemy." He drank his share of wine and she stared at him with the same level of seriousness. "Fortunately, that side of me is in check."
"It's not necessarily bad to protect one person whom you loved..."
"I guess we are on the same page then." He puts the last drops of the wine to his glass and Penemue's as they share another toast to each other. A few words were exchange, some of them being funny whilst the others were about their experiences in the outside world. For the most part, the cadre Fallen Angel was only staring at him, giving the only slightest attention to his words.
Perhaps, it was her being a Fallen Angel that drives her to just have her way with him and be done with it. Nevertheless, she was not some harlot to do that without a strong motive. Penemue find Shirou to have the same qualities as her... someone who zealously followed and believe that what they do is right. That, and she never gets tired of looking at both his eyes, one is tainted with cold steel and the other one of golden brown that speaks of kindness.
"It's already past at 9 o'clock. You think it's time for you to go home?" Shirou inquired as he begins to put away the plates to the sink. Penemue wondered if the young man would allow her to... a thought suddenly occurs to her. A mischievous smile appears in her forms as she slowly approaches the redhead behind and presses her mounds to his back.
"~Why don't we sleep together?~" She said in a sultry voice.
"Listen, you may have seduced many men in your lifetime but I am a bit of an oddity," He turned around and faces her head on, his hands made his way through her shoulders. "If you want to, you can sleep in the guest room and not mine, deal?"
She cutely pouted at him and agreed on his terms. The secretary excuses herself and entered the bathroom to refresh her body, which is currently in heat. Maybe it wasn't a good idea to tease him like that as her hormones lit up to a certain level. Penemue opened the showerhead and bask in the warm waters, she ran her hands all over her body and it gradually moves down to her womanhood.
'No! Penemue! Don't do this! He is only around the corner, don't do that!' A small visage of herself restrain and she moves it away.
'Bahh! It has been months since you did it! That guy is a gentleman that he won't even think of barging here. Besides, you desperately want it and doing that in a room besides him might raise his curiosity.' A black visage argued against the white one.
'Shirou will lose all respect for you!'
'Shut the hell up will you!' The two visages of her go on a rumble, the Fallen Angel calms herself down and opted to stop completely.
"Calm yourself down..."
"Hey, Penemue, I have some spare clothes, you want them?" Shirou calls out and she told him to leave it there. "I'll be going now. Good night."
She can almost hear the audible footsteps and the closing of the doors. Penemue sighed and let the water pour down on her hair, she was without a doubt a beautiful woman overall. Yet, she can't esnare this man and it hurt her pride a bit, she was a Fallen Angel after all. She did not fall to the sin of Lust but after spending time with the women in the Grigori, she had enjoyed it.
"Shirou... if you ever found out the truth about my past... will you still see me as who I am right now?"
Penemue simply does not want him to turn her away... much as everyone back in Heaven did to her.
January 5, 20xx
The Harweys have total control of the mineral deposits located in Stonehenge. If this continues, we might be on a losing battle this time. The Burial Agency and the researchers in the Sea of Estray will come with us to have agreement talks. At this point, the plutocracy of their family will be unstoppable... and we can't allow that to happen.
He was dreaming yet again... but instead of the nightmarish ones from last week, it was very different. He was being engulfed in flames yet he did feel anything, neither heat nor pain. The fire died out on its own as he walks into the endless void. He didn't know where the void's end and he thought of him as a lost traveler, allowing his instinct to just wander off on its own.
He didn't have to walk for long as a light illuminates a certain weapon that he is all familiar for quite some time now.
Excalibur, the Golden Sword of Promised Victory.
What is the weapon doing here stuck on the stone? He didn't waste any time as he grabs its hilt and took it out with relative ease. The Wrought Iron Mage twirled it around and begins practicing with it; he simply can't take it out nilly willy as the necessary prana is not something he can have on a whim.
He admired it greatly for the ingenuity of the fairies to create this Noble Phantasm for King Arthur. No one in his world or him is able to replicate this masterpiece, yes, he can somehow make a copy of it, but nothing beats the original that is in the possession of the King of Knights.
A few moments later, the sword began to change form, he knew that Excalibur has been through many changes, and here is one of them. The light began to swallow up in the hilt and was replaced by a blight of darkness; it slowly creeps up on the blade and shrouded it around. A small smirk formed on his face as he examines it.
There is goodness to everyone and at the same time, evil within them. Excalibur itself was no exception. This here is not an evil sword nor a holy one but something that symbolizes the concept of being a king that Arturia envisioned. A king that cares for his subjects and compatriots yet at the same time a ruthless one against the enemy.
"Excalibur Morgan."
Two sides of the same coin and both are powerful on their own and much like every Noble Phantasm he had used, they are all weapons meant to save or take lives. Shirou has used them several times though Morgan has seen more uses than its counterpart has. His enemies want to see the side of his that was a cold-blooded killer and he grants them the benefit of the doubt.
The void around him dissipated, illuminating it with a searing light that forced him to shield his eyes. What is up with lights and stuff like this? With Excalibur Morgan in his hands, he once again trudges the now lit up place.
"Where will this dream end?" Shirou mused to himself, the young mage was sure that he is in the domain of dreams and as painful as it is to pinch every part of his body, he still can't wake up for some reason.
"Child... seek the future of humanity. For the Gods have walked amongst them..."
The moment that he heard the voice, a sharp inducing pain assaulted his brain. He holds his head out and gritted his teeth as a flurry of images from his past made its comeback at him.
"This will be your most amazing discovery, Shirou. With this, even those who lived in the slums will have decent lives. What do you want to call it by the way?"
"Sakuradite, in honor of my beloved underclassman."
He remembered that conversation and how he was supposed to be the beacon of humanity's hope. Nevertheless, it was his discovery that he unintentionally made some of the biggest conflicts that humanity has to face.
"Why did you do it?"
"You are far too conservative on your own, Emiya. Humanity has been stagnated for too long, the Harweys will lead them towards a brighter future with me as their leader."
"You lost it completely, haven't you? The world became like this because of you!"
It was at that moment where he decided that in order to stop their advance and save her sister from her terrible fate. To participate in the last Holy Grail War and stop the Harweys from achieving their greatest desire and bring her back to him and Rin.
Shirou let loose a hollowed cry one last time and stab himself with Excalibur Morgan; his body falls to the ground as he closed his eyes once more.
*Briing! Briing!*
He reached out for the alarm clock and presses its back to stop it from making any more unnecessary noises. The proximity of his nightmares was at least decreasing yet it gets even worse, he even stabs himself with Excalibur Morgan to force himself to awake.
"I really want to say the proper greeting for this morning but," Sapphire hovered near him and began to scan his body. "This is not normal anymore."
"What do you mean? That's only a dream, perhaps, there is a hidden meaning behind it. Besides, it's not like I can control what goes in and out of my brain now." He stood up on his feet and stretches his arms out before leaving the room. This will be the day that he and Sapphire would go to the Leaning Tower of Pisa to get the last orders from the Wizard Marshall.
Shirou didn't bother of waking up his guest in her room, knowing that she'll tease him yet again. His eyes caught something that was stuck under a vase, he immediately opened the piece of paper and he recognized the handwriting that accompanied it.
Shirou,
Something came up right now and it rather needs my attention. I didn't want to disturb you so that's that. I do enjoy our dinner last night, let's do that again!
Penemue
P.S: You look so cute when you sleep!
Somehow, it brings a creep up in his body after reading it, Penemue did go in his room unannounced and god knows what she did in there.
"She did steal a kiss on your lips," Sapphire said as if the most natural thing to her.
"Really? Man, I knew it! I should have put those extra locks to be on the safe side." Shirou facepalmed as he puts the letter back in and decides to grab some coffee. He doesn't want to think of anything that might have happened between him and Penemue. Shirou could only hope that she didn't pry in his things.
The Governor General of the Grigori was not in a happy mood, how could he be? One of their facilities in Dunhuang, China was destroyed on the ground. What's more, this unknown assailant stole one of his precious experiments; it wouldn't matter to him if it is a failed one. However, the use of the said experiment might jeopardize the relationship and the peace that they establish with Heaven.
The sand dunes covered the destruction of the facility but it won't hide the scowl on his face. He must think of a plan to capture the fiend before news of this gets out in the open. He already arrived at the scene of the crime with a team accompanying him to salvage anything.
Azazel noticed a magic circle bearing the insignia of the Grigori and he already knew who it was. A figure steps out of the circle, wearing a formal suit, accenting her curves and inhuman beauty.
"Good day to you, Governor General." Penemue greeted him with a bow.
"What's with the smile? Oh... is this one of the rumors I been hearing from the others? You're seeing someone, eh?" Azazel said with a goofy smile, but she kept her composure.
"I would like to keep my life in private as much as possible." She replies with a stoic and professionalism within it.
"Okay, okay... we do need to be serious right now, anyway," The duo walked in on the tents were a few medics were attending to the wounded staff of the facility. "According to our scouts, several hostile units were tracked approaching our territory."
He handed her down a folder where several photos of the assailants are shown. It was a bit blurred but Penemue can see the visage in one of them.
A dragon with wings resembling that of their kind. Her eyes furrowed at the shadow of the biggest one in the picture. There were no other known dragons that would callously do damage such as this. The Infinite Dragon God could care more or less about the things that are happening right now and the same could be seen in the others. Penemue dug deep in her memories to find that particular visage that bears the same resemblance to the creature.
"You're telling me that this here decimated our best men as if they are nothing?" Penemue asks yet again as she observed the injured bodies of her fellow Fallen. Some of them are writhing in pain while the staff took care of them.
"Yes, but there is another thing that worries me the most," Azazel motioned him to the biggest tent in the area but it was surrounded by their known practitioners in the field of curses. "Sariel is in danger."
Penemue's eyes widened and she ran towards the tent, the sight of Sariel will be burned in her memories. A young man whose silver hair is now being replaced by a black mud, pouring down in his frame. His whole body was crucified upside down with chains holding him down in his place.
"P-Penemue," Sariel cried out, his eight wings flickered out as he reaches for his sister's hand. She didn't waste any time as she ran towards his younger brother only to be stopped by Azazel.
"Let go of me! What did you do with Sariel!?" Penemue lashed out at him but he still grips his hands onto her.
"Listen!" Azazel forced his secretary to face him. "Something is wrong with your adopted brother; he attacked our men and killed them with that very mud on him."
Her eyes widened at his statement as the seals holding her brother's prison lit up in flames, devouring the Fallen Angel all over. The magicians holding Sariel down overloaded it with their equations, holding down the crucified Fallen is giving them a hard time to concentrate properly.
The flames died down and miraculously, he was still alive, albeit, his face is beyond recognition. It was only for a few minutes when the mud-covered his face, replacing the flesh with the scales of a dragon. The barrier began to shake out of control; the magicians who were holding it down were blown away from the shock. Azazel and Penemue were the only ones standing. The rest of the Fallen Angels who are on standby ran towards the tent to see what in the world is going on.
That is when they saw it.
His eight wings shred off his back and with it, a new set emerged and unlike before, it resembles a draconic form with protruding claws in it. The Fallen Angels readied their weapons but Azazel motioned them to stop.
"How does it feel? To bathe with all that power?" Sariel kept his mouth shut and he glanced at his sister. His... oh so beautiful, Penemue.
"It feels astounding. Never before that had I felt this surge of power from within me," His voice is devoid of its kindness that Penemue knew, it became hollow and full of... hatred. "My sweet sister, won't you come with me? There is no need for us to be with those weaklings."
"Sariel, what's gotten into you!? May I remind you that it was through Azazel that we had a home and we may have been hunted down to the depths of Earth if it weren't for him!"
"Heh, of course, I wouldn't deny the Governor General's actions is for the sake of us," Sariel gripped his hands and crimson flames dance in the palm of his hand. "But it wouldn't change the fact that it was because of him that many of our brothers and sisters were slaughtered and he wanted to bow down to our enemies!?"
"So, you're telling me what I did, to prevent our kind to be wiped out from the face of the planet is wrong. You sounded like Kokabiel alright." Azazel interjected as he puts on his game face on. "I can kill you right here and right now."
"Your words do not scare me, Azazel," Sariel roared out and throws the blazing flames towards the Governor General. He didn't even flinch as he raised his hand and a magic circle surrounded him and the others.
"Is that all you can do? Throw those flames at us? I was expecting more out of the former Angel of Death." Azazel's insults seem to have no effect on Sariel as he decided that fighting the leader of the Fallen and his lackeys would be proved difficult. As for his sister, he'll claim her for sure but for now, escaping and meeting his new master is his top priority.
"Stop! Don't shoot him, please!" Penemue begged out to her fellow Fallen but her words were ignored as they intend to hunt him down.
"Do what she says! Leave Sariel be!" He ordered and the soldiers of the Grigori retracted their wings for him.
"Lord Azazel, we must hunt him down! He killed his very own kin and nearly do it to Lady Penemue!"
"No, we can take care of him later on." He narrowed his eyes to the direction where Sariel headed, most likely, he wouldn't let this be unanswered, and if anything, he will return to claim Penemue.
Speaking of which...
"Are you alright?" Azazel asked as he places his hands on her shoulders.
"Of course not! For some reason, Sariel attacked us! He never resorted to violence like this!" Penemue screamed out indignantly, she is still recovering from shock after hearing her brother's words. If she were to put herself in the position of the former Angel of Death, what Azazel did back in the Great War, they have lost over a quarter of their population. If they didn't pull out and the interference of the Red and White Dragon Emperors, only the Devils and the Angels remained here.
But in order to preserve peace amongst the three Biblical Factions, Azazel together with the leader of the Underworld, Sirzechs Lucifer and the leader of Heaven, Michael signed a peace treaty. Something that was thought to be impossible but it did happen anyway. Not all of them took this as a good sign since they are all enemies from the start. One of them is Kokabiel who wants to instigate the Great War once more by killing the sisters of the two current Devil Kings.
Fortunately, the White Dragon Emperor stops him from doing so.
"Azazel, let me take care of this."
"No, can't-do that. Leaving you alone will be the least of my problems. You'll be staying with us back in Japan." Azazel finished but he was stopped by the cadre Fallen Angel's strong grip. He looks unimpressed by her and he forced Penemue in a standstill.
"Listen very carefully; I wouldn't risk losing neither you nor any of my subordinates to someone who is already lost." Azazel's words hold some venom within them but he did not faze the secretary.
"Sariel is still redeemable; just let me do what I am known for, Azazel. I know him more than anyone else."
The Governor General stared hard at her; he knew that Penemue is someone who is fond of her fellow Fallen Angels. Especially to the likes of Sariel whom she took under her wing and he can quite say that the Angel of Death became fond of the Angel of Healing. Azazel has a feeling that Sariel may have crossed the line between him and Penemue and the secretary didn't notice it.
"If that is what you want... I will allow it. But know this, if Sariel is beyond threshold, do what you need to do because if you don't, I will do it."
With that, Azazel goes out of the tent, leaving the secretary behind him. Words were not exchanged but she and the Governor-General knew what inflicted the Angel of Death.
Many Christians knew him as the one who had fooled Eve to eat the Forbidden Fruit. However, there was a loophole in that story, it wasn't Lucifer who had transformed into a serpent, but it was someone else. Lucifer and he bore the same level of hatred towards her... Father. One thing that she is worried about is how in the world did he escape his prison? He is sealed in the Lake of Cocytus and that part of the Underworld is under the command of Hades.
"Sariel..."
How did come into this? The question that he asks many times already after leaving his brothers and sisters behind.
That's right, he wanted to gain the affection of his sister, Penemue. The Fallen Angel whom he liked for quite some time now. To be exact, falling in love is not something that he had expected rather; the concept of romanticism is so alien to him that he found it absurd for him to develop such.
He was an Angel who guards the souls of the deceased and he is not necessarily a counterpart of the ones in the Greek pantheon. However, he took his role in a serious manner that love is not a part of his vocabulary. He did know that his Father gave them the freedom to love whomever they wanted as long as the feeling is mutual. Yet, the only thing that he understands is that...
Love can make people or in some cases, Angels to do forbidden things.
"To think that I will develop such."
The Fallen Angel leaned against the wall and gripped his chest in pain. Even with this influx of power, it was simply not enough to lessen the pain surging through his body. He forced himself to his knees and began to walk around the abandoned buildings, the creaking of the loose hinges of the doors and the surging wind makes it hard to see through the fog.
"Of all the places, why would he hide in here?" He asked to himself. To be exact, he was in Chernobyl, a place that no human would ever dare enter because of its lethal radiation. Perhaps, it was indeed a perfect place to conceal himself, away from any prying eyes from the Devils and Angels. In one of the many hotels located in the town square, he was forced to bend on his knees as a shadow looms above him.
There are no words to describe the figure's powerful aura; this display of power is enough for him to recognize it as one of the most powerful beings he had seen.
"I should applaud you for taking in my blood and survive long enough to find me." The voice said in a cruel tone before landing in front of him. A dark visage covered his entirety but he saw his true form a long time ago.
He had most his radiance when he successfully fooled Eve into eating the Forbidden Fruit, thus, he invoked the wrath of God to him. The figure changed that of a man garbed in a black tunic and a matching color of pants. The entirety of the face is covered by white linen and his eyes were sewn shut, making him question whether the figure can see or not.
"It has been a long time, Angel of Death." The figure started.
"Do not call me in that name. I abandoned the notion when I was cast out of Heaven." He responded with irritation. As much as he wanted to attack his new master to all the pain that he goes through but his rationality prevents him from doing so.
No matter where Sariel look, Samael holds his dear life and he can end it if he wanted.
"What do I need to do... to lessen the pain? This is agonizing!" Sariel shouted and Samael stomped his feet, shattering the fountain behind him.
"You really are an impatient one," Samael moved in and cupped Sariel's face. The Fallen Angel is beyond repulsed by his actions. "You have to figure it out by yourself."
Sariel's eyes widened at his statement as Samael unfurled his 12 draconic wings and left his new servant on the ground. He won't bother to guide the former Angel of Death, there are still matters in which needed his utmost attention. He will come back at him... at least not now; Sariel's suffering is something that he will enjoy once the curse takes over his whole being.
The beauty of the Vatican City is beyond words to describe, somehow, looking at the architectural genius and the elaborated paintings bring a smile on her face. If one were to ask why does a Seraph, a Fallen one nonetheless is roaming around the city... it was due to boredom. To be exact, she was in a separate dimension that is in line with the world outside.
Gabriel is there but technically, she is in this parallel dimension, filled with pure whiteness. She can see the people going in and out of the St. Peters Square and their disappointment upon seeing that the basilica is closed. She might not be able to interfere with the outside and vice versa, the thought of doing absolutely nothing didn't cross her mind at all.
The 4 Pillars surrounding the city prevents anyone: may it be a Devil, Fallen or anything that gives off a hostile aura not to be allowed entry. If they ever force their way in, the four Pillars will deal with them. As of this moment, she is kneeling at the altar with her hands folded together. Even if her Father is now gone, praying is still a part of her daily routine. Her prayer consists of things that an Angel would ask for... continuous peace, strength to overcome trials and much more.
"Milady." An all familiar voice greets her and with widened eyes, Gabriel turned around to see her Queen standing there. She's still wearing the same dress when they both depart together but Gabriel did notice that a part of her arm is covered in white. Still, seeing her all alive for herself is enough to wash away all her worries away.
"Griselda... it is good to see you again."
"Indeed it is," The female exorcist removed her veil, her face is still wearing a solemn expression. "I would like to apologize for my action a few weeks back. If it weren't for me, this whole situation would have never happened."
Gabriel can see the look of disappointment in Griselda's face and after observing one of the most promising exorcists only next to Dulio Gesualdo, she never loses her temperance. However, after what happened to her, Gabriel knew that her Queen would take all the blame for herself.
"Arise, my Queen," She spoke in a commanding tone, something that she rarely used since she didn't look at the members of her Brave Saints as some kind of tool. The only way that she knew to snap Griselda out of her stupor is to act like a true King. "You do not need to take it all by yourself. You can see that I am perfectly fine."
"But... if it weren't for me, you wouldn't have become..." Griselda's voice trailed off, unable to mutter the truth on why her King is staying here instead of in her real home.
"A Fallen Angel?"
"Erm, yes..." Griselda looked ashamed of her own self. To be called on duty as the one and only Queen of the woman who holds the title of Strongest in Heaven, she had taken it with pride and promise that she will protect and serve her. However, the enemy that she and her King fought and the price to it was her stature as an Angel and a Seraph clouded her judgment.
"I am truly sorry, Gabriel. I am unworthy of becoming your Queen, I didn't even get to protect you at your most needed time," A small tear comes out and the next was accompanied by a torrent of them as she goes down on her knees.
"Griselda, do not think that because of your so-called failure that you will leave me," Gabriel pulled her Queen to an embrace. "It was said that a King must protect her subordinates but you and the others whom I recruited. You are like a family to me."
"Gabriel, I..."
"No, don't say anything. Don't lower yourself any more than you'll ever be. Listen to me, I know that humans make mistakes but with that, try to move forward and do what you can to prevent it from happening ever again." The King of Hearts released her grip and gave her Queen a reassuring smile.
It seems to be enough for Griselda and at least get her to snap out of it and the two both stood up on their feet.
"I swear in my life that I won't let that heathen sully you anymore, milady," Griselda said with steel conviction but somewhere beneath the Seraph's heart, she's hoping that no danger that would cost her Queen's life. After all, Griselda Quarta may be a reincarnated Angel under her command, it won't change the truth that...
She is still humane at heart.
Santa Maria Novella, a great example of Italian modernism from the 1930s. It's one of Italy's busiest stations, with 160,000 people passing through it every day, and takes its name from the Santa Maria Novella church across the piazza from the entrance. He silently sat across the waiting area and there were others waiting for the first train to arrive.
'Seek the future of humanity? Somehow, that is not the right term that I wanted to hear.'
'Shirou, I feel a presence nearby...' Sapphire perked up from the briefcase that he's holding and he instinctively look around. Men and women together with kids all chatting to each other, the conductors wailing to the others and the ticking of the clock enters his eardrums.
'What is it? I cannot sense anything if it is an enemy... we need to get the people out first.' Shirou stated as he readies a multitude of blueprints of weapons in his mind.
'It's not a hostile one,' Sapphire took a moment of silence, she clearly doesn't know how to tell him the presence but it is better for the redhead to at least know them. 'It's a volley of holy energy from two swords that I think you find interesting. The wielder of Caliburn and what seems to be Excalibur is approaching the station.'
His eyes widened slightly and the blueprints imprinted in his mind were all gone except for one. Apparently, this world's Excalibur was fragmented into 7 lesser versions and it was under the care of the Holy Church. When Sapphire told him about this, he was perplexed and he really wanted to see the fragments of the sword. To be exact, he won't mess with this world's Excalibur, he may have an indestructible copy of it, comparing them to each other seems to be unfair.
Perhaps, if he could ask Gabriel to show him those...
He was snap out of his thoughts when his arms caught the body of a young girl who is a bit of hurry nearly tripped on the ground.
"Thank you, good sir!" The girl stood up and dusts off the hem of her skirt. Her appearance reminds him of how the entertainment industry portrays witches. She's wearing a sorceress-like dress with a huge blue hat, a black bow and a matching cape with pink flowers and a white interior. The girl smiled beamed at him and he was courteous to give back a smile of her own.
"Do tell, are you a stray magician by any chance?" The girl started.
"Me? Actually... I guess you can say that" Shirou replied as he goes back to his seat. "I will finish my apprenticeship this time and hopefully get his approval."
"That's weird though... magicians in training such as you shouldn't be out in the open," The girl assumed a thinking stance. Shirou did know that magicians in this world are not some disorganized group of magic-wielding people. There are three institutions that a magician could begin before they set out in the open and do whatever they please. The term 'stray' refers to those who become rogue and unable to find a proper contract within the human world.
"Where are my manners?" The girl did a spin around and bows down to him. "My name is Le Fay Pendragon from the House of Pendragon."
"Shirou Emiya, a magician in training, hailing from the Land of the Rising Sun. It is an honor to meet a descendant of the King of Knights." Shirou bows down in respect causing the young witch to stammer a bit.
"You came from the Far East?"
"Indeed I am, I found Europe to be a nice place to study magic and at least meet some known figures here. I guess my luck is at full speed."
"It is really rare for magicians hailing from Asian countries to move here, you know? You came from Japan, right?"
"Exactly, I..." Shirou was interrupted by a shout from a young man and judging by what Sapphire said and the aura he is emitting, this man here is in possession of the Sword of Selection and a fragment of an Excalibur.
"Le Fay, how many times do I have to tell you not to talk to strangers!" The man said as he pulled the girl away from him. "Pardon my sister for bothering you, she's a bit of an extrovert and will go out to bug anyone."
"I can see that," Shirou replied as he observes the interactions between Le Fay and her brother. The girl is pouting at him while the young man is giving her a mild scolding. To see them interact made his heart scrunch a bit... he and her younger or big sister like how she would call it, fight over a stuffed toy that she wanted. Their bickering simply reminds him of that.
How he missed those days, him and Illyasviel von Einzbern together with Rin Tohsaka and Sakura Matou living those peaceful days. Now, it was only a grazing memory buried underneath a hole of hatred. Shirou made his way to the newly arrived train, leaving the two siblings behind.
'Shirou, are you alright?' Sapphire asked from beneath his briefcase.
'Yeah, well... no. I don't want to think of Illya or Rin for now,' Shirou sat at the last part of the train seats as people were pouring inside. The approximate time that he'll arrive at the Pisa Central would be an hour and a half so he took out a notebook and starts writing some scribbles.
'Do you miss them by any chance?' Sapphire asks and he shortly stopped to ponder.
'Yes, it would be great if I was able to go with them back then,' The train began to move as Shirou looks outside of the window. The countryside that was filled with lush greenery and the mountains looming over the horizon brings back those peaceful days. Until that peace was shattered by the Harweys and the start of a Holy Grail War between the said plutocratic family and the United Nations.
With his introduction of an unknown mineral that can be used as an alternative source of renewable energy, it was also being used to power up nuclear bombs and WMDs. Simply put, magecraft is being overshadowed by the advancements of technology in terms of raw power. If he didn't discover that mineral... would the war be in favor for them?
He goes back on his scribbles and it showed a drawing of what seems to be a fortress of some kind.
'Is that Damocles?'
'Yeah... the so-called 'Heaven's Fortress' where Sessyoin Kiara and her loyal followers stay, this is also the turning point of the Cold War too.'
'That event has brought drastic changes to you. Rin, Sakura, and Illya noticed that your behavior was... off-putting.'
Shirou didn't deny that his zealousness made him a bit of a problem, hunting down the Holy Maiden and stop her became his top priority at that time.
'If you're worried that I'll be like that, you don't have to. I already let go of it.'
Shirou observes his artwork and couldn't help but smile at it. Unknown to him, a certain witch is watching him closely and by that... literally. Le Fay Pendragon is at the empty seat next to his, the girl showing her approval at it.
"That is one neat drawing! Do tell, is that your workshop?" Shirou didn't seem to mind her presence but with all the people who are clueless about the supernatural. "Don't worry; they'll just ignore us for the most part."
"How about your brother? I'm sure he'll come looking for you."
"He's doing something right now and he doesn't want me to interfere with it," The young witch replied as she remembered the words of her brother. "By the looks of it, this is way too much, don't you think?"
Shirou nods his head in agreement. "Of course, it will take approximately... 20 years for Damocles to be completed. Besides, it's not really a workshop, you see, I was fascinated by the thought of living up high in the clouds."
"Oohhh! I thought of something similar to," Le Fay clasped her hands in the joy of finding someone who shares the same girth as hers. "But the heavens are the domain of the Angels."
"You're right, but still... I'm hoping that I'll see this masterpiece to be held high by the clouds. Humans that is down here will see the beauty for themselves. The glorious morning and the fascinating evening."
"We are on the same page then!" She said with a smile on her face. The young man only nods his head in agreement with her. Somehow, talking to the descendants of Arthur gave him insights that they are good people. Maybe it was him, lowering his guard down, whatever's the case he did enjoy her company.
"Ms. Le Fay, you're needed up front."
The young witch skips along and looks at him with a thoughtful expression plastered on her face.
"Maybe you can get the Angel that contracted you to help you realize that. I must admit... I am a bit surprised to sense that much Holy energy from within you." Le Fay continued. "At first, I thought you were an exorcist under your guise. But after seeing the marks of one of the Four Seraphim of Heaven etched to your hand, you are indeed a magician, a newbie that is."
"I don't know what to say about that..."
"My advice is for you to improve more so that you are worthy enough of becoming a Seraph's magician. Many magicians of higher caliber will do almost anything just to get in your position."
Shirou kept quiet as the descendant of Morgan Le Fay released the spell, the passengers unaware of what inflicted them. He once again looks at his drawing and to the model of CHALDEAS that he left the apartment. The one thing that he is sure... the model will not work under the conditions of this world and the power supply is another factor.
'Shirou, aren't you gonna ask about the Excalibur?'
'Nah... we'll probably meet her again. Right now, I really want to see what is waiting for us in that tower.'
The rest of the trip was fairly normal for him. Nonetheless, the passengers in the front carrier are having a bit of a problem.
The descendant of King Arthur sat with a confused look forming on his face; he wouldn't be that bother of a problem if it's a small scale. However, this one that he had to deal with is a big one... at least for him. He lay down the cause of the problem on the table.
"Big brother, what's wrong?" Le Fay observes the sword on the top. A two-handed sword with a round pommel at the end, it also has a gold color cross-guard that slightly curves forward lost its once luminous figure. The young witch clasped the blade in her hands and to her surprise... she cannot detect any source of Holy energy from it.
"Something happened to the Excalibur Ruler. For some unknown reason, when we entered the train, its light dissipated and was covered by some blight," Arthur Pendragon adjusts his glasses and grab the sword once more. "It disappeared when we made a stop in the Pisa Central and the sword completely changed."
"I don't know what caused it and..." Le Fay's voice trailed off, staring at Excalibur Ruler. "Something's a bit off with your sword, big brother." The young witch shook her thoughts away. Arthur, on the other hand, looks at the weapon. The remaining Excalibur fragments once held by the Eastern Orthodox and the Protestant Church. After the incident of the stolen Excalibur fragments, it was obvious that as the descendant of the King to restore the glory of his ancestor's sword.
"It seems that I'll be using Caliburn for the meantime. Le Fay, try to analyze it for me, will you?"
"Yes! Perhaps the books from the archive might tell us something about this unusual phenomenon."
Unbeknownst to the siblings, small cracks have appeared on the blade of the sword and it was followed by a reddish hue by its hilt. The changes were only briefly before returning to normal.
They have found their rival and soon, they will clash once more.
Shirou roamed his vision around the hotel room that he rented for this week. He, for one, was never keen when it comes to spending too much money. The funds that he accumulated from working in the local eatery is not enough thus, he needs to make money... the easy way.
The deep web can be harmless if you know your way through it.
He plumps himself on the top of the bed, staring at the ceiling until Sapphire came into view.
"Shirou, I feel the presence of a card nearby."
Shirou sprang up from the bed with surprise evident in his forms. A card? Maybe it's an ordinary one... who was he kidding, Sapphire can detect magical traces originating from his world.
"Is this the supposed to be surprised?" Shirou exclaimed. "It really does bring the element of it. Sapphire, let's move." The redhead didn't waste any time as he runs off the corridors and hit the elevator button. It will only take him a little walk or a run may be needed.
...
Nighttime falls down on the streets of Piazza del Duomo. The Pisa Cathedral and its doors were closed and there are only a few handful of people outside of this two magnificent structures. Maybe the only out of context around is him, staring at the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The Mystic Code hid behind his pockets and acting as a guide to detecting where the exact location of the card can be found.
The entrance was opened as if inviting him and the magical energy around is rising little by little. The young mage stepped in and he was greeted by the astounding architectural design of the place.
"Atop." Sapphire said and he found the staircase leading up to the upper levels. Each and every step he took made his heart tremble, it has been like... two months and a few weeks since he saw a freaking Class Card. Those things were the perfect arsenal that most of them used back then. If they somehow go in the wrong hands (though he doubt that someone could use them in here) all kinds of bad things might happen.
His footsteps came to a halt, his eyes cemented on that one figure overlooking the scenery down them. Her long black hair was done in a braid, the bright kimono that she's wearing accented the beauty of the moon from within her. An elegant, almost regalian aura surround every fibre of her being.
He could not actually believe it... that she was actually here. Yet, she is not supposed to be in this plane of existence for many reasons. He has so many questions that he wanted to ask but he knew that she would also want the same for him.
"It has been a long time... Shiki." Shirou started with a melancholic voice. The woman turned around and face him with the same girth.
"Yes, indeed it is... Master."
A/N: Sakuradite - a mineral that Shirou discovered near Stonehenge, England back in his home world. Its a powerful superconductor that found many uses, mainly as an alternative for coal and nuclear energy.
Shirou came from a combined and alternate timeline of UBW and Fate/Extra CCC. Due to his experiences from the last Grail War, his alignment change from being a Lawfully Good to a Chaotic Neutral.
Sariel is one of the Ten Seraphim residing in Heaven but I used the traditional interpretation wherein he and others fall to the sin of Lust from the book of Enoch.
I could use some constructive criticism once in awhile.