Fate/Asterism Liner
Chapter 7: Child of the Stars
"Why are we at a karaoke bar?" Illya couldn't help but find the situation odd as she looked around the room. Eil had taken her and Miyu there after they'd confronted him at the church, though it didn't make a lot of sense why he'd want to explain things in a karaoke room of all place, "Wait… but what if it's a super-secret thing? He did ask us to stay… wait is this something dangerous?! Would we be better off not knowing?!"
"Alright… so, just to be sure, you two are ready for a pretty long explanation, yeah?" Eil folded his arms as he spoke, Miyu nodding firmly while Illya was a tad more hesitant about it, Eil looking to Ruby and Sapphire, "Sapphire, Ruby, this doesn't leave this room, understood? The old man saw this coming eventually, but until I actually have to use "it" in front of Rin and Lluvia, please keep it quiet."
"Well not like I'd tell her anyway. But, you've got it!" Ruby said, giving a salute.
"Of course Master. You don't have anything to worry about." Sapphire said, Eil nodding.
"Wow this sounds serious." Illya thought, Eil cracking his knuckles as he took a few breaths to relax himself.
"Alright then… let me start off by telling you two my real name." Eil said, Miyu and Illya raising a brow each, "Well, okay, Eil is actually just a shorthand nickname I go by. Coltheart is actually a magus family though… but it's a branch family from my real family. My actual name is Eilwyn Zima la Zvezda, and I'm actually from Russia."
"Zvezda… it's Russian for star." Miyu murmured, "And that magecraft you used… it also formed as constellations."
"I'll get to that, but my family situation is kind of… well, it's a thing." Eil said, leaning on a hand, "The Zvezdas are a really long running line of magi, on par with families like the Fragas and Animuspheres… I realize those names probably don't mean anything to you two, but for magi lineage is kind of a big deal."
"Really? It sounds… weird, kind of." Illya murmured, a finger on her chin, "Though… I guess it couldn't come up because of the situation going on right now would it?"
"Yeah." Eil said, running a finger along the rim of the glass near him, "Though, here's the thing. The fact I'm a Zvezda is a secret from everyone in the Clocktower besides Zelretch and our mission advisor, Lord El Melloi II. This secret is being kept for one reason: We Zvezdas are heretics under the laws of the Association's magi."
"Eh?" Illya felt her mental processes grind to a halt, though Miyu spoke up.
"Heretics… why would a heretic want to study at the Clocktower though?" Miyu asked, Eil sighing as a bitter chuckle left him.
"I'd prefer you not say I'm a heretic in such a deadpan tone." Eil muttered, leaning back as he sighed, "Now, this is kind of why I needed you two to be prepared for a long explanation. Because to explain that, I have to explain what the overall mission of the average magus is. You see, there's an element in the world you two probably know more commonly as the Akashic Records, right?" he got nods in response to that, "Well, to a magus, we call it the Root. For most magus, the pursuit of magecraft is the pursuit of the Root, to try and create a method in which one can reach the Root and gain even a small piece of the infinite knowledge of its records. The problem is though, the Associaiton is picky about how one goes about this. They don't like to be left out of the loop, so they downright demand the methods a magus creates can be replicated through study. While bloodline traits are accepted, it's because those can be passed down, and potentially spread as well if bloodlines mingle. But, if a magus starts coming up with a method to reach Akasha that simply can't be replicated, such as through a Reality Marble like method, it doesn't fly with them. Magus who achieve things like this receive the dubious honor of reveing what's called a Sealing Designation… and become eternal targets until they can be locked away and studied, the vital Magic Crest being stored and used as an experiment."
"Okay… uhm, what's a Magic Crest?" Illya asked, raising a hand.
"A Magic Crest is like a record of a bloodline's achievements." Miyu stated, her hands folded on her lap, "It contains the knowledge of every spell they've learned or developed over the course of each owner's life. A vital part of an heir's training is progressively receiving more and more of the Magic Crest from their holding parent until it's been fully passed on to them."
"Oh. Soo… that means it's kind of like a family diary of some kind, one that's passed down and added onto with each generation." Illya said, Eil shrugging, "Wait, but what about those bloodline traits?"
"We call those Sorcery Traits." Eil stated, "Lluvia's family, the Edelfelts for example, possesses one called Ore Scales, or "Sisters". The Edelfelts are the only magus family capable of passing their magic crest on to more than one heir, while others, even mine, are kept to having to bear a single child to pass the Crest onto. And with that… I can finally explain why the Zvezdas are called heretics. See, it's not like we've actually ever done anything to break any rules… my ancestors just happened to develop a powerful magecraft that was close to True Magic… but is only usable with our Sorcery Trait, which we named the school itself after: Asterism."
"Wait… but, if doing that would make this happen, then why would they make this magecraft? If they were trying to reach Akasha then why make a magecraft like that?" Illya asked, Eil chuckling as he leaned on his knees.
"Well that's the other thing." He said, a small ball of light forming at the tip of his right index fingers, "We were also declared heretics for that exact reason. My Ancestors created Asterism because they didn't want to reach Akasha. Rather than trying to gain even a bit of the infinite knowledge of the past in order to become a True Sorcerer, those who came before me instead decided their aim was the future, not the past. And so, with the abilities our developed Sorcery Trait granted, we Zvezdas went from mere stargazers to being able to create Mysteries of our own inspired by the constellations of the skies and the stars they make up."
"And because your very Sorcery Trait is the core of this magecraft, and the fact magi can only bear one heir safely to pass that knowledge on to… the Association then chose to declare your family heretics instead of allowing further improvement?" Miyu said, seeming a bit confused at the idea of it. To her the thought sounded downright alien. Exiling a long running and powerful clan because they achieved greatness over generations of improvement and study? All because that knowledge was impossible to spread as widely as would be demanded of them? It was mind numbing to try and process.
"That's the sad truth of it though. They couldn't just throw people at the current heir to try and make the Trait spread, so instead they tried to cut us off entirely. Had the Association had their way I'm sure they would've long since locked away my ancestor who was the current heir when this designation was put onto us. But, we weren't so easy to get. When this happened, my family cut almost all ties except with some of their most trusted allies in the Clocktower and hid away deep within the Russian snowfields." Eil let out a sigh, then chuckling, flicking away the ball of light, "Something kind of ironic though is, the Colthert branch family's Creation is actually an application of Asterism. But, because it was based on the so called "useless" school of Projection, it flew right under their noses."
"So that's why you can do something like replicate a Noble Phantasm, even if it's weaker." Miyu noted, Eil nodding.
"Correct. Asterism is capable of drawing on ether, so when applied into something like Projection, it becomes harder for the World to reject it, as technically, using ether to draw out the Phantasm and crystalize it bypasses Equivalent Exchange." Eil said, "But back on topic… actually, there's another irony to this entire thing. The entire goal of magecraft is "make the impossible possible", to recreate the Mysteries that faded from the World when the Age of Gods came to an end. But, those who run the Association throw a fit whenever someone actually does achieve that, declaring them "problems" if they don't immediately give in and become a damn lab rat for them to study at their leisure."
"Sounds bad. Really bad." Illya remarked. She couldn't say anything. The flood of information was more than a little overwhelming for her at the time, her head was downright spinning. But all the same, she was determined to listen and make full sense of these answers she was getting about who the young man in front of her really was.
"The worst part is, Sealing Designations like the one my family has are called a "highest honor" given in the name of "preserving" the special talents and traits of those who developed them." Eil's bitter tone however was laced with absolutely snarling sarcasm at the mere idea such a thing couple possibly be considered some kind of honor, "They're so damn fixated on "preservation" and control they forget what magi even do in the first place. Not to mention the Clocktower's problem is that so many of them are fixated only on the past. Attaining Mysteries from the Age of Gods, claiming the Magics lost during the change in Ages, so on…"
"Yes but Master, do not forget your Mentor is one of those mages who attained the use of True Magic." Sapphire said.
"Yeah but Old Man Zelretch is different." Eil said, "He's been acquainted with the Zvezdas for a very long time, heck he's the reason I can even attend school at the Clocktower and keep my cover, what with all the power struggles constantly going on in the damn place. But even as a magus who became a True Sorcerer, he views things different precisely because of that. But, well, that's a topic for another time."
"So then, what about your magecraft, this Asterism? You said it's based on constellations, which entirely have their basis in the past and legends. That's not much different than what your typical magi does." Miyu remarked, Eil putting a hand behind his head.
"True, but also not quite." Eil's statement got Miyu to raise a brow, the young man chuckling, "While yes, most of our known constellations come from the sources of Greek legends marking them in the sky, and adding their own stories, what Asterism does is more draw on the actualized traits of said constellation. Asterism crystalizes power sourced from the interpretation of the connected stars, not actually the legend itself. Take for example Andromeda. In legend she's not that famous besides being the wife of Perseus and the whole chained to a rock thing. But as that's what her constellation represents, Asterism actualizes the associated spell as a powerful binding spell."
"I'm not quite following." Miyu remarked, and Illya about had smoke coming from the top of her head.
"Okay, let me put it this way. Asterism doesn't base itself on the story nor the legend of the Constellations. It bases itself on the concepts they embody. Take the Zodiac signs for example, which the more modern meaning have their place taken not from the Greek basis of the constellations, but instead the interpretations of them as the idea of what the Zodiac even is." Eil said, both girls nodding, "Say for example I used Leo or Sagittarius, the spell would have effects relating to their conceptualizations as members of the Zodiac rather than as Greek stories. Leo is like an advanced kind of strength enhancement, just to give an example… might actually have to use that one actually."
"So, then was the method you were using to step in the air like I was also a usage of Asterism?" Miyu asked, Eil nodding.
"Yes, actually. I was using Pegasus to do that. Though in actual application it's actually a flight spell, I can tone it done to do that instead. I didn't use it properly for, well, obvious reasons." Eil remarked, Illya giving a bit of a sigh.
"Yeah I'm sure if Rin-san and Lluvia-san saw him flying they'd have all sorts of questions." Illya thought, "Uh, so, since it is based on concepts, doesn't that still mean some of those other ones apply to them?"
"Of course. I actually had half a mind to use Perseus when we were fighting Rider. The idea was, since Perseus' legend is closely tied, or, heck, defined by him slaying the Gorgon, channeling the concept of "Perseus" would likely have some kind of effect on Rider, since she was Medusa, even if a version from before she truly became the Gorgon."
"And I think I'm starting to understand what you mean." Miyu stated, a hand on her chin, "While it's basis is of course in concepts of the past, creating anything comes from that reasoning… to some it may sound hypocritical, but it really isn't. You're just moving forward without looking back."
"My family's saying is "A Zvezda is guided by the Asterisms which paint the sky. Take a star as your guide, and follow it forwards into our future." The kind of stupidly idealistic saying of a stargazer, but one that's gotten us to where we are."
"Now what I don't understand is how, without connections to the Association or Clocktower, how the Zvezdas could even continue their research." Miyu said, Eil looking to the side as a sound left his throat.
"I uh… actually don't know that one. My family is crazy rich, and we've interact with a lot of people over the course of history… but I never understood exactly where that fortune precisely came from." Eil put a hand on his chin, a low hum coming from his throat, "My dad tends to be out on expeditions a lot, though I don't know what it is he actually does."
"So… is that about it?" Miyu asked, Eil nodding.
"Yeah. Not really sure what else there is that I could all to this. Being totally honest I still have a lot of things to learn about my own family and what Asterism is actually capable of in the long run." Eil said, twirling a bit of his hair, "So, yeah, nothing more to say on that matter."
"So just remember, unless it comes up while we're gathering the cards, keep this quiet with Rin-san and Lluvia-san!" Ruby cautioned, waving her "feathers" a bit.
"The fact Master Eil is of the Zvezda bloodline is a well-kept secret. It would be dangerous if word about his true origins somehow reached the Association." Sapphire said, "Though they have not looked into it since Father has taken him on as a student… which is usually a dangerous venture for those who seek tutelage under the Great Father."
"Uwaahhh… sounds scary." Illya murmured, Eil flipping a hand back and forth.
"Well he's thrown me into a couple alternate dimensions for kicks once or twice but otherwise he hasn't abjectly done anything too dangerous to my health."
"That sounds exactly like something that's dangerous to one's health!" Illya yelped, Eil just shrugging, "Ah man, the world of mages really is a complicated one."
"Actually, there's something else I wanted to bring up, Illya." Eil said, the girl's attention turning to him as he took a moment, "Your surname is Einzbern… I'm curious because, well, being completely straight with you, that name has a lot of weight for magi… do you really not know who your family is?"
"Eh? Well, I mean I know my family were German nobility but, mages? Come on that just sounds silly doesn't it? Well, okay, no let me correct that, it came out wrong. I guess you could say it's just… odd. I mean, my parents are magi, and as far as I know I don't have any other relatives on either side of my parents' family." Illya said, Eil raising a brow.
"Okay… so, just to ask… what are your parents' names?" Eil asked, Illya humming.
"Well, I actually use my mom's surname as it is. Her name is Irisviel von Einzbern… and my father's name is Kiritsugu Emiya." Illya said, Eil and Miyu going wide eyed at the uttering of the man's name.
"Kiritsugu Emiya?! That… the Magus Killer? Illya's father is that man?!" Eil's face was abjectly one of shock, though compared to it, Illya seemed more than a little confused.
"What? Is something wrong?"
"And she's entirely unaware!" Eil mentally yelped, his head tilting as he chuckled awkwardly, "Not really… so uh, since we are here and have some more time… w-what about actually doing some karaoke huh?"
"Sure!" Illya said, suddenly enthusiastic at the idea, shooting up, grabbing the nearby tablet, "Now let's see here…"
"Things just got a lot more complicated…" Eil thought giving a sigh as a hand came to his face.
Rin was silently flipping through some notes as she mulled on what their next plans were. With only three locations left to gather the remaining Cards, it meant that more meticulous planning was becoming an absolute necessity since they could actually start narrowing down their potential foes even more to three precise possibilities.
"Hmm, while it's impossible to know the size of the distortion until we enter, maybe there's a way to at least figure out the Class of the Card before entering…" Rin stuck her pent on her lip as she hummed, and she looked up when the door slid open, Eil shuffling in and sitting down heavily, "Well, you look like you've just seen something scary."
"You could say that." Eil muttered, leaning his hands on the table, "So… you know how Illya's last name is Einzbern? You've found that suspect too right?"
"Well of course I have. But nobody's heard from the Einzberns in over a decade. For all we know it could just be a coincidence." Rin said, looking back to her notes, Eil giving a dry chuckle.
"After today I'm not too sure… cause I just learned something very interesting about Illya." Eil said, tapping a finger a bit, Rin looking at him with a raised brow, the boy giving a sigh, "But first, promise me it won't leave the room, alright?"
"Uh… yeah, sure."
"Illya's father is Kiritsugu Emiya, the Magus Killer himself."
"WHAT?!" Rin snapped, shooting upright, Eil nodding.
"And if you work off of that information, then the idea of her surname being Einzbern stops sounding like a coincidence. She really is a scion of that family." Eil remarked, grumbling a bit, "Which would explain why she has so much potential, but it still raises even more questions… she's entirely unaware of the fact the Einzbern family is a magus clan, or the fact her father is, or was, someone who hunted down rouge magi as a business."
"That… makes almost too much sense." Rin murmured, tenting her hands, "But then… what do we even do with this?"
"Nothing. Not like we can, and Illya told me when I asked her folks travel a lot… but there is always the chance they could suddenly come back… meeting them would probably just confirm all of this." Eil said, his finger still tapping a bit, "Man this is all suddenly so insane… first those Cards, now we happen to stumble on the Einzbern scion? What's even going on?"
"That's a question for the ages, isn't it?" Rin muttered, both sighing and hanging their heads, "Well… I at least decided where we're going tomorrow… the bridge."
"Well, this'll be interesting. Let's see where our luck takes us." Eil said, a hand on his chin, "Assassin, Saber, or Berserker… which one is it going to be?"
A/N
Shorter than the other chapters sure but I don't really mind. I like the content in this one but dang was it a thing to get through. Good thing I've been thinking about this stuff for a good long while though!
