Author's Note: Hey everyone, Orpha here. Presenting, the next chapter of Fate/Second Sight. Again, I'm going to warn you to not expect any subsequent releases to be similarly frequent, this is a special case because I began writing the chapter immediately after chapter 9. Still, thanks for all your support. However, I'd like to address one thing: Since the last chapter, I've received 6 new follows but only 1 new review. Guys, if you like this story, please do review it, it's important for me to know what I'm doing wrong. On that note, a lot of the feedback I've received is largely positive, and I'm happy about that :D But I would appreciate it if you guys also started including criticisms in your reviews/PMs. (if possible :P) Fundamentally, I aim to improve myself as a writer to create good quality work for you guys and everyone else out there, and critical reviews help me with that. Don't get me wrong, it makes me happy that you guys are so impressed/pleased by my work, but I'm sure there are flaws, and I'd really like to know what they are. :3
Now, moving on the the story this time, I decided to increase the level of yuri overtones in here, which hopefully will please you guys (and gals XD) in general. I also put in more humour that I felt was reminiscent of the VN's subtle humour, so hopefully that worked out :x
Also, warning: this chapter is filled with infodumps, particularly pertaining to the nature of tracing. Some of it is taken from the TYPE-MOON wikia (props to them for keeping the thing organised), while some of it is the result of my wild imagination.
Also, for those still unsure of Caster's identity, (though I am sure that this group is a minority right now) I dropped a name in this chapter which is a TREMENDOUS hint. And for those that don't get it, Don't feel bad. It's a rather obscure piece of work that I'm referencing. I'll try to do the character's rich background justice nonetheless :)
Alright, enough with my rambling, on with the story. Enjoy :)
Signing off,
Orpha Delacroix
"Different?"
I am dumbstruck. Could it be that my magic skills exist after all? That I can do more than merely the most rudimentary and mundane of magic usage, analysis? The implications of what Caster has told me ring through my mind.
"Yes. Different. In fact, if I'm not mistaken…"
Caster stretches out her hand, humming a complex series of chords. With a slight shimmer, that silver and yellow sword materializes in her outstretched palm. She grips the beautiful weapon and holds it out to me. Guessing her intent, I reach out and take hold of the sword. It feels natural. Its handle is not cold as per my expectations, but warm, radiating a comfortable amount of heat. Its weight feels perfect in my hand, and I resist the urge to draw a picture in the air with its blade. The etching of the name "Allen" glows softly with a golden light, and the blade seems to exude power. This is no ordinary weapon. This is a magical blade. This is a Noble Phantasm. With this realization, I stare wide-eyed at Caster.
"Analyse that blade."
"But it's a Noble Phantasm, right? Analysis doesn't work on Magical artifacts, does it?"
Of course, I have no clue as to whether my assumption is true, but it was based on the idea that something as low-level as analysis could not possibly comprehend the complexity of a magical item.
"No, it doesn't. But remember: what you perform is not Analysis. Please just try."
Still apprehensive, I do as Caster tells me, bracing myself for disappointment.
"Trace On."
First, nothing. Then, the information starts to bombard me.
I again reach out for the notebook and pen.
Handle: 96% Gold, 3% Silver, 1% Condensed mana. Guard: 84% gold, 16% condensed mana. Blade: 3% diamond, 43% silver, 54% condensed mana. No weak points identified. Country of Origin: Kingdom of Lucifenia. Hand-crafted. Prana Infusion Limit: 4500. Original user: Allen Avadonia. Intent of creation: protection and service. Name: Akutsukai. Class A Anti-Personnel Noble Phantasm.
I open my eyes and look at what I wrote, receiving a shock. Condensed mana? I have never even heard of that material. A prana infusion limit of 4500? That is ridiculous. Even jewels tend to average out around a meager 1000 units. And how did I manage to see the name of the sword's user, and the class of Noble Phantasm? This is beyond the scope of normal analysis. Could this be what Caster was referring to? I look to her for clarification, but she is staring at my notebook once again, tears forming in her eyes.
"You…you managed to divine his name…"
With shaking hands, she takes the notebook and pen from my hand, and writes on the notebook. When she passes it back, I see that she has edited Allen Avadonia's surname. The name now reads:
"Allen Lucifen"
Caster then begins to sob uncontrollably. As I reach forward to hold her in my arms, I recall that dream. The dream where I see Caster's life. I recall the young man at her side. And again I wonder: Just who are you, Caster?
She leans into me, sobbing on my shoulder. The enigma of Caster once again presents herself. Sometimes she seems so mature, so calm and collected. Sometimes she seems so childlike, sad and troubled. If my dreams are to be believed, she was the ruler of a kingdom when she was young, but I know nothing of what could have caused her to carry such sadness, nor do I know anything of what might be the cause of her tears. I want to know her. I want to know more about her. I want to understand this woman who has so changed my life.
After a few moments, locked in that close embrace, Caster pulls away and wipes her tears, putting on an apologetic smile for me.
"I'm sorry, Master. I shouldn't have lost my composure. Shall we continue?"
I grit my teeth slightly, upset that she chooses to hide her sadness from me, but I gesture for her to carry on.
"Thank you…Now, we've established that your version of analysis is not analysis at all, but rather a new form of magic altogether. A powerful one, at that, transcending barriers of time, magic and the physical. Now, this leads to some interesting implications…"
Just like that, she switches back to full-on business mode.
"Such as?"
"Well, if what you thought of as analysis is not actually analysis at all, then it's also highly possible that what you believed was projection is not actually projection."
"…Do you think it's worth a shot?"
I am a bit skeptical, but Caster was right the previous time, maybe she's on to something this time as well.
"Please project something. The first thing that comes to mind."
I close my eyes. I try to think of something to project, however, the only thing that comes to mind is that sword, Akutsukai. If I'm going to try this, might as well go the whole way.
Step 1: Judge the concept of creation. Why was the sword created? To protect and to serve. But who? I recall my dream, and there I find my answer. The sword was created to help to protect and serve the woman who now holds the title of Caster.
Step 2: Hypothesising the basic structure.
Handle: 96% Gold, 3% Silver, 1% Condensed mana.
Guard: 84% gold, 16% condensed mana.
Blade: 3% diamond, 43% silver, 54% condensed mana.
Step 3: Duplicating the composition material. In my mind, I picture silver being refined, diamond being cut, gold being melted and moulded. I feel my magic circuits opening as I visualize the creation of the condensed mana.
Step 4: Imitating the skill of its making. I recall the previous analysis. Searching deeper, I finally discover the method used to make this sword lovingly by hand. I visualize myself as that blacksmith, hammer in hand, forging the perfect sword.
Step 5: Sympathising with the experience of its growth. I look into the sword's history, from the point when Allen is first presented with it to the point where he entrusts the sword to Caster. I follow the trails of blood left by the blade, tracing its trail of carnage. I experience in my mind every killing the sword had performed.
Step 6: Reproducing the accumulated years. Having experienced every act the sword has been involved in, I now visualize myself reliving these moments as the wielder of the sword. Stab after stab, slash after slash, I help the sword carve itself into history.
Step 7: Completing the manufacturing process. With this knowledge of the sword's make, its origin, its purpose, its history, I recreate the weapon. I recreate its base composition. I recreate its history. I retrace its steps. I recreate its existence. I recall its name. With this blueprint in mind, I call forth the prana in my magic circuits to shape that which I hold in my mind into reality.
I feel myself gripping a hilt, and I open my eyes. In my right hand is an exact replica of Akutsukai. Caster looks at it in wonder, and materializes the original. Taking hold of my projected Akutsukai, Caster compares the two.
"They're identical. And not only do they look the same, but they feel the same. I can feel the history of the sword in this replica."
Caster looks straight at me.
"What you have done is not Gradation Air, or, as you call it, projection. Projection simply creates a likeness of the item. What you have created is not a likeness, but a replica. A copy with substance. It is undoubtedly weaker than the original, but this is still an amazing feat."
Surprised at my own success, I start to laugh.
"A Noble Phantasm. I just projected a Noble Phantasm."
At that moment, the replica of Akutsukai shatters.
"Eh?"
My shoulders slump forward. Disappointment floods my mind.
"I guess it's no good after all."
"Oh no, that's not the case at all."
I look up. Caster is looking at me strangely.
"I was right. What you have done is not projection. It is a far more advanced form of the magic, one I have not seen in a long time."
"You mean, you knew someone who used this magic as well?"
"Yes." Caster averts her eyes. "My mentor used this technique often back when I was her student. Mistress Elluka once explained it to me. Normal projection simply copies the image of an object, using prana to grant the image physical form. This brand of projection allows you to not only copy but also completely recreate an object. However, while normal projections have a fixed amount of prana within them, your brand of projection requires the user to constantly supply prana to keep it materialized. As such, items created through this brand of projection will never lose their form unless you lose your concentration, or if they are physically destroyed."
"So…you're saying that…I can create a complete replica of any weapon? With its attributes and abilities?"
"Not a perfect replica. The copies you create seem to be weaker for some reason. Weaker than the items which Mistress Elluka used to create. Even though the magic is essentially the same, your's seems to be less refined than hers. I think it's likely due to your inexperience; you haven't seen enough of the world to be able to completely understand the weapon. With misunderstandings, no matter how minute they may be, it is impossible for you to forge a true copy of the weapon."
"Just how much weaker is my version compared to the original?"
"Project the weapon again and analyse it, that should give you a rough idea."
"Okay. Trace On."
I recall the blueprint I created, with relative ease this time. Again focusing my prana, I recreate the replica.
"Beginning Appraisal."
Instead of writing anything down, I simply internalize the information. Most of the information is identical, apart from two particular items: The Prana Infusion Limit of the weapon is 500, as opposed to 4500. Its class as a Noble Phantasm is B as opposed to A.
"The rank of the weapon seems to have decreased by 2, from A to B. The prana infusion limit also decreased to 500 from 4500. Speaking of which, what is meant by the prana infusion limit?"
I muse out loud for Caster to hear.
"If I remember correctly, the prana infusion limit is the maximum amount of mana an item can contain before it shatters. For most items, they will simply break down and cease to exist if infused with too much mana to hold. But, for magical weapons such as Noble Phantasms, overloading it with mana will turn it into a Broken Phantasm."
"A Broken Phantasm? What's that?"
"A broken phantasm is just that; a Noble Phantasm that is breaking apart. Since Noble Phantasms are, by nature, magical artifacts, they will not simply vanish after being overloaded with magic. Instead, making a Noble Phantasm Broken makes it unstable due to the clash of magic within the blade. As such, it makes the item much more dangerous. Allowing a Noble Phantasm to turn Broken will allow for a single attack with the weapon's rank augmented by one rank, but at the cost of losing the item forever. It is a highly dangerous thing to do, and I strongly advise you against doing so."
She glares at me pointedly. Damn. She read my mind. If I could spontaneously create and fire Broken Phantasms, I might actually be of some use in battle, rather than making Caster fight all by herself.
"Regardless, your projection ability is rather fascinating. It's not something anyone can do. It could be a very powerful ability."
"Oh? In what way?"
My curiosity is piqued by her insights.
"You managed to replicate the history and accumulative experience of my sword."
"So?"
Caster smiles.
"Magical weapons are not created magical. They gain their attributes through their continued usage and the inevitable melding of identities of the weapon and the hero. This is why heroes across history are often characterized by their weapons. Heroic spirits gain power through their legends. The greater the legends which they create around themselves, the more strength they have. Similarly, the more legends that surround a weapon, the more powerful it is, the more it can accomplish. Legends are forged around weapons through what the blade has accomplished in its existence. Thus, when you recreate the history of the sword, you imbue the copy with the legends of the original."
"I don't see where you're getting with this…"
"Through battle, the weapon becomes one with the wielder. A part of the Heroic Spirit's self is contained within the weapon. The legends of the weapon and this melding of entities is what grants Noble Phantasms magical attributes. Ergo, since you are able to copy their history, you are able to replicate the magical abilities of the Noble Phantasms."
"Ah, I see. Wouldn't have been faster to just tell me that I can use the magical abilities of the weapons?"
"Actually, now that you mention it, that is true." She smiles sheepishly. "Sorry, I was just too used to my old mentor giving me the longest lessons for the simplest ideas. I was lost in nostalgia."
"No, it's okay. So you really admired your teacher?"
"Yes. She turned my life around, offered me redemption…"
Caster gains a distant expression.
I decide to leave my prying for another time.
"Should we stop for today, Caster? I'm a bit hungry."
"Hmmm…yes, we should. I think we've accomplished a lot today."
She beams at me, then snaps her fingers. The magic circle of blood on the floor vanishes, all traces of its existence erased. Both of us stand up, and I stretch for a bit. Opening the door to the shed, I cannot believe my eyes. It's completely dark. We were in the shed for a whole day.
"Wow, Caster. I didn't even notice we spent the whole day in there."
"Ah. Yes. After activating your Magic Circuits, you were unconscious for close to seven hours."
"Seven hours?"
I raise my voice involuntarily.
"Yes…It's normal. When trying out something new, the body takes some time to get used to it. Especially in the case of magic, the body is trying to get used to something which previously did not seem to exist. It always takes time to adjust."
"But seven hours? What on earth did you do for those seven hours?"
"Watch over you, of course."
I shake my head. This level of attention borders on creepy, but I am nonetheless grateful.
"Thanks. I'll make a great dinner for the both of us."
I smile. It strikes me how lucky I am to have a good friend like Caster, who would spend seven hours taking care of me to the exclusion of all else. She is so kind. Not to mention cute. And that adorable face just makes me want to-
No, Ayaka. Stop. Do not go there.
As we enter the main house, Caster pipes up.
"Oh yes! Ayaka!"
"Yeah?"
"I forgot to say this: Your version of analysis, you called it Appraisal, yes?"
I have to think about it for a bit, but I remember that I did use that aria when analyzing the copied Akutsukai. I guess it could fit as the name of my brand of magic.
"Yeah, what of it?"
"I think it's a good name."
I turn around and flash Caster a smile.
"Thanks, Caster. For being with me. For everything."