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FICTION
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Chapter 10: Lance (1)
Shirou's first time in Tokyo was quite brief.
Kiritsugu had decided against letting them wander around, reminding both Taiga and his son that the trip was a business one and that there would be enough time to explore after he had finished his affairs in Tokyo.
Of course the girl deflated instantly as she had planned to make several photos of the capital, just for the sake of having something to prove this new experience away from Fuyuki. Maybe even get the chance to wander and find Akihabara for... reasons.
Not even Shirou was sure what kind of reasons would urge the social butterfly to genuinely seek the district famous for the large concentration of Game Shops and anything related to the still growing Anime industry.
The flight was uneventful, nothing much worth of consideration and afterthoughts... if it wasn't that Kiritsugu had been quite antsy for the rest of the time flying.
Eyes a little open wide open, his movements forceful sometimes and he seemed to be on alert for the rest of the flight.
It was something Shirou couldn't genuinely pinpoint what had caused this on the first place and so he merely thought it was the plane itself.
Flying, from what Taiga had been ranting and re-ranting, was something that could get people quite unnerved. Something about hating being stuck in a relatively small place that could easily have you crash and die for a reason or another.
Of course the redhead knew that the chances for this situation to happen were incredibly unlikely to happen and so he spent the reminder of the experience either reading or napping.
The flight was a long one and it made a quick pause in the Leonardo da Vinci International Airport in Fiumicino, Italy, to refuel before finally reaching for the capital of the United Kingdom.
It was there, once the plane had fully landed on the runaway, that Shirou noticed a major change in the environment from the one he had grown accustomed to in Fuyuki.
London was impressive. One of the oldest and most developed cities in Europe, its layout looked incredibly different from Fuyuki's own and he was awed by its grand display of skyscrapers and parks.
Truly a magnificient city, Shirou thought absently as he give it a first look. He had read so much about the city, an important cultural piece of European history with its Victorian style buildings and parks larger than the one back in Fuyuki.
Taiga had also looked awed too but the redhead noticed quite early that she looked less intrigued by the city and more interested in... something else. Asking her about that proved to be a fruitless effort, the girl merely stating that a 'friend of hers' she had met a month ago was supposed to live there.
Kiritsugu decided against giving too much of a sight over the place, citing that he had already been there and that he was less than inclined to waste time in 'being a tourist'. Few hours later and the trio had finally reached the hotel their caretaker booked for the oversea trip.
The Nadler Kensington Hotel surprised Shirou's imagination regarding the place, the hotel owned a beautiful XIX century outward style, while keeping a more modern disposition within its premises.
The rooms that the older Emiya had picked were connected by a common living room, had separate showers and... the hotel's chefs knew Japanese cuisine. The last bit was a treat he had not truly expected, having prepared his mind to face western cooking.
It wasn't like he disliked the style but... it was different. Wandering in unknown territory was quite nerve-breaking for someone of his composure... when he wished to have one.
After a quick lunch, Shirou was ready to finally enjoy a walk around the city- "No."
But there was a major issue the boy had not truly planned to face. Kiritsugu posed an immediate halt to his wandering, citing how they all had just arrived from a long flight and the difference between timezones was noticeable.
The first day was supposed to be wasted resting and recovering from the flight.
With a final tired sigh, Shirou let his body fall on his bed, mind darkening as his consciousness slipped and...
Amber eyes opened up as he felt a small critter nuzzle in his face and he turned to look at a familiar being causing the interaction. "Hello there, Fou."
His hand slowly went over its small head and started to pet the adorable squirrel-like creature. Its eyes closed blissfully as he continued with his ministrations, enjoying the calming effect he felt over the calm action.
Maybe he should get a cat once he get back home, Shirou contemplated silently.
He was back in the beautiful grasslands created out by the crystallised dream. The prison of a foolish man.
His attention moved away from Fou and, turning towards the opposite direction, he saw Merlin, the magician perching on a low branch of a tree, his violet eyes directed at the cloudy sky.
"M-Merlin-san?"
The man glanced his direction, his smile widening just a little as he nodded at the redhead.
"Hello Shirou and... this time we have more time to speak about your current mission."
The boy blinked surprised at the words of the white-haired magical being.
He hadn't planned to do much here in the European city, feeling far too much unknowing of his surroundings to genuinely try to find anything Game-related. He was excited at the opportunity to be in the capital but.. he knew that trying anything like that would be stupidly selfish and dangerous.
"W-Wait, what do you mean with 'more time'? I thought that-"
"While my prison is not set within the World's premise, the same couldn't be said of its entrance."
His stare was sternly redirected to an arcway of stones, some words written above it.
"Only the innocent may pass." The magician mused darkly as he shook his head. "To think I would be screwed by something so simple but so beautifully effective."
"W-who did this?" Shirou blurted without thinking, then he said more. "Who was the one responsible for-"
"Someone incredibly loving but infuriating at the same time. Her name, Vivian, would be meaningless to your mind if I didn't tell you her first grand duty, aiding King Arthur by providing Excalibur to her."
Now that was something strange. "W-Wasn't Excalibur the sword in the stone?"
At first Merlin chuckled at the answer, bringing more confusion within Shirou, then he sighed tiredly. "Caliburn was the first sword of the King, the blade destroyed for the sake of Good as it caused most of the ruler's initial strife."
He jumped off and softly landed on the grass near Shirou.
"She couldn't age. Humanity no longer an aspect within her body as... she took the harshest duty and ended up dying in a grave of swords."
Shirou felt like he could visualize the place, a hill with so many weapons laid wasted in there, only a single individual there.
But it was no King, nor woman there. It was- I'm the bone of my-
An headache blocked the interesting sensation and the magician crouched above him, his staff glowing a blue light as is encompassed his full body.
The pain slowly subsided and his mind felt clearer than before.
"Now that was something I had not seen within you the first time... but let us not digress further. You have an important job in the close future, boy." Merlin sat down, eyes closed as he took a brief pause to think, to pray and grieve.
"I admit I know when I am at fault and... while I don't regret pushing Artoria into the ruining path she had to walk through, I think she at least deserves to have her memory preserved rightfully."
-A Rose of Different Name and Scent-
Time Limit: Undefined
The legacy of King Arthur exists within this world but... her existance is miserable. Reach the Magus Community in Cadbury Castle, Somerset, and take Gray Pendragon with you.
Hints
A diplomatic approach is highly unlikely to work with the locals because of your low standing within the Moonlit World, caution and preparation is adviced.
Reward
-New Companion: Gray Pendragon-
-Unlock Gray's Route-
-REDACTED is added to your inventory-
-Improve Merlin's closeness-
Failure or Refused
-Decrease Merlin's closeness-
-Gray's Route is closed-
- Decrease Gray's closeness-
Accept?
Y/N
"W-Who is Gray?"
Merlin sighed tiredly, his eyes once more to the sky. "Do you remember the fire, kid?"
The Gamer's body tensed, the memories still fresh even after so long had passed.
"Imagine that this young girl is replacing you in that horrible predicament, constantly suffering because of actions and inactions of others while she is innocent and unworthy of said treatment. Now I wish to know, Shirou Emiya, if you were placed in front of her, to stare at her pained existance and her sorrow, would you seriously not consider saving her?"
It wasn't even a choice by this point as he knew that there was someone that he know he could save and he was being given the opportunity to do so. But was it truly the need of being a hero? Maybe he was merely greedy because he wanted to get stronger and...
"You know, your face is quite expressive when you think deeply about an argument." His attention was brought back to the magician. "But I will tell you something very important, boy, something that I have seen unfold because I was prime cause of."
Violet eyes looked hesitant and tired. "You are a mortal, child, something limited by your own nature to truly strive to become someone capable of saving everyone in the world. Trying will give you some initial relief, some positive interest to add to your dream but... you will despise yourself if you throw your life like this."
Merlin paused and closed his eyes. "Saving people when you can is something rightful, noble even but trying to push over your natural limits will only bring pain and apathy to yourself. Even with the Game to your side, you are still not a true deity and you hopefully will never become one. Too much of a painful existance to endure without going mad."
Shirou found himself brought back to the world abruptly, the unfamiliar ceiling of his hotel room making him panic at first but... he sighed as he got up from the bed. He gave a quick look at the old clock by his bedside and groaned the moment he caught the time.
It was half an hour before midnight and... he was still tired.
Yet he couldnt't find relief knowing that he will have to plan out how to save someone with his current predicament. He might have some capacity in using meele weapons and he had trained a little with the bow but... he was far from ready for this situation.
The redhead sighed tiredly as he rolled by the short furniture by his bedside to pick the folded map of the entire United Kingdom. He got a name to work with, a place where to find her but no clear indication where this place was or how he was supposed to reach it.
Small steps, he repeated within his head like a mantra, small steps.
Luckily enough and starting from the regions on the bottom of the map, Shirou found the small settlement of Cadbury Castle right by the Somerset, Cornwall. It wasn't that far from London, considering that the trains here were relatively cheap and quicker than in Japan but he still will have to plan who could help him in this predicament.
Feeling the last bits of his energy finally drained away in that quick search, the redhead returned to bed as his mind slowly drifted away from the real world and into a lucid dream.
He dreamed of swords but only one shone the brightest in that place he found himself at home.
AN
Explanations over Explanations: The reason why the update took so long is actually pretty similar to other stories. I was highly distracted by Uni exams, had to write several drafts as I felt rushing too much and I had to properly connect some dots that I had still to connect to the main plot.
Gray, the official first girl Shirou saves: There isn't much known about her birthplace, only that it is a unimportant village of Magus that Waver would reach three-four years after the Fourth Holy Grail War. I picked Cadbury Castle as it was one of the possible sites where Camelot once existed and could connect with Gray's family being a branch of Artoria's main one. Since she is in her 20s during the Adra Castle Detachment (2004), I decided to set her current age at 10-11 Years old (it is still 1994 right now in the story).
Something new: I decided to set an account Pat(CoughingMyKidneys)reon, but it is only about donations now. I am not doing commissions as I have long promised to keep my fan-writing free and legit! I just accept donations and I might set good goals if we reach an acceptable following. Currently the first goal is... setting up a permanent Google Doc where I will mostly write my drafts before uploading them online.
P a treon . com (slash) socialistbukharin
REVIEW Q&A!
surya25addanki: Hiatus almost over. After Uni Summer Session (June-July), my regular schedule will be fully back up.
merendinoemiliano: Thank you!
HarmonyDST05: *Looks above the chapter* Yep.
Mirvein: Scáthach is not capable of becoming an Heroic Spirit because she is immortal and stuck within the Land of Shadows. At least this version of her. Pretty much like Merlin, the one Scáthach being summoned in Chaldea is a version of her that is not forced by the local universal rule within the Land of Shadows. I checked if Goetia had truly destroyed the Land of Shadows and there was nothing about it online. The Independent Manifestation of Merlin is only temporary for the Babylonia Singularity as this form is destroyed by Tiamat's awakening, in fact he is given the temporary chance by Gaia to leave his prison and intervene in person. The version that is summoned post-Babylonia is a version of the Caster that is not imprisoned within the Garden of Avalon.
MystiYew: Grammar will be reworked in the future.