Fate Divergence
Revelation in gold 2
Narration
"Talk"
Monologue
*sfx*
Small summary
- Manaka negotiate with Shirou
- Archer explain the corruption of the grail
- Shrou and Touko finishes their collaboration.
-F/D-
Inside a long luxurious car bound to Mt. Fuji, a man of Greek descent in his late twenties wearing a black coat and slacks sat at the far right corner as his right arm lean at the edge of the window while his left hand is holding a smartphone to his ears. Sitting beside him is the servant Saber of Karl's faction. And adjacent to them is a German man in his forties wearing a green coat. Next to him was his tall green hat and seated next to it is Jeanne's former servant Caster.
"I see," the Greek man sad as he made eye contact with the German gentleman. "Let's meet at the ritual ground then."
"Is that Manaka by chance, Arc-sama?" the German asked curiously.
"Yes," the Master called as Arc replied. "She called to officially declare that she betrayed us."
"Well that's sooner that what we expect,"
"True," Arc replied. "She is after all 'like us'. Her pursuit of the grail on the other hand is not like the nobles we recruit and sadly enough her goal is also not aligned to our end goal."
"We can use this betrayal to our advantage."
"No, The fail safe Ruler cast in case she betrayed us at the very last minute was dispelled," Arc said as he confidently look at the servant beside him. "I am guessing the Faker has a Noble Phantasm that is capable of doing it. Saber, what do you think? Can you handle two King of Knights and the Queen of Shadows? "
"Traitors are bad for civilization," the Servant Saber said, with one eye close and one eye half open that is looking straight to Caster. "It matters not who they are or how many they come. I will destroy them."
"Very well..." Arc replied in a satisfied tone before shifting his focus to the German Master. "It also goes with out saying that they will now know the truth Mr. Flauros. How you are connected to the theft of the Fate system and the murder of Lord Marisbury."
"It does not matter," the man called Flauros replied with a sinister grin. "What benefit would they get if they learned of my crimes. She was there when I killed that old fool and may know of our general plan but I am certain that she is not aware that we are the ones that rigged the grail in the fifth cycle by introducin mooncell's formula as trial phase for our own grail war? "
"True," Arc nodded. "And if we base from the Quantum realities I had observe before, the fifth war cycle where the grail is corrupted, no unexpected and documented extras take center stages and the beast of Calamity was not domesticated by Merlin as the ideal testing ground due it being more flexible that the fourth's origin wise and closer to the original time frame.
"Because the grail is more unstable in the fifth cycle compared to the forth due to its previous destruction," Flauros muses. "It is far easier to introduce anomaly here without triggering the Grail's system."
"We even rigged the King of Knights from being summoned as trial and the grail didn't do a thing."
"But because of that, his rate of survival further diminish with Avalon not working properly."
"Which is why we make sure that he, the other linchpin to our plan survive the war." Arc added. "It was very expensive all in all. To set up that museum, to bribe the school to have them go on a field trip and to have him draw 'that'. The pseudo-class card with the King of Knights in it just to revitalize Avalon's healing function until he reached the point where the three path diverge."
"The very same linchpin that is now fighting against us along side his true servant." Flauros mumbles outloud with a hint of irritation. "Who knew he would be a far bigger nuisance than his original."
"Well we fully under estimate his drive to be a Hero of Justice."
-F/D-
"Is this really necessary?" Archer asked in embarrassment not to his predicament but to his master's action.
Bound in a chair with rope with a lamp placed at the right side of the table mimicking an interrogation session seen on T.V, the counter guardian shifted his gaze from his interrogator to the spectator nearby.
"Shut it and explain," Rin said coldly.
"Very well. Where should I start..." Archer sigh in defeat. "I guess we can start first to my summoning.
Archer began
"Rin, as long as you use that gem as medium to summon your servant, 90 percent of the time it will be me that will answer your call. Do you know why?"
"Wait... gem... school grounds..." Rin mumbles as she had one hand to her chin and the other wrap to her side. " Emiya-kun is fated to be stab by Lancer at the school grounds."
"That's right. As long as the grail is corrupted and the incident of the fourth occur, Emiya Shirou is bound by fate to witness two servant fighting at the school grounds. Either or not it is from the child of light or a different servant all together, the enemy servant will be sent to dispose of him and you will use the remaining power of the gem to heal him. Because of that, the gem in my possession will most of the time resonate to your summoning."
Archer then shifted his gaze to his coat's right pocket signifying that the item is there.
"Saber if you will,"
Marisbury orders to confirm Archer's statement."
"..."
Saber silently approach Archer and took a small item in his pocket.
"The very gem that you use is at the right most drawer in his room."
"Rider," Caren signal.
"Yes Master."
Rider replied as she goes into Shirou's room.
After a few second, Rider returned with the exact gem.
Rin's eyes widen and her complexion pales faster that the chance of her breast growing in size.
"Oi! we are dealing with a serious mater so can it with the bust commentary!"
"so how is this connected to the Rider's Master?" Marisbury asked in which Archer turn his gaze onto his saber.
"The very reason I exist was because he, Kiritsugu Emiya save me from the after math of his actions of destroying the corrupted grail" Archer points out. "The very shard of the destroyed grail is now used on Sakura to mold her as the second lesser grail. "
"And is that all?" Saber asked, itching to pounce at the red servant. "So what is the big deal if that is the case?"
"The corruption of the grail pave way for anti heroes to be summoned," Archer added. "Blue beard from the fourth, Medusa and Medea for the fifth. If we consider parallel history, A corrupted Sakura will further complicate things. In more way than one."
"Medea?" Caren asked while trying to figure out where she have heard that name before.
"The Witch of betrayal from the Argonauts." Rider answered.
"So is she the servant that you had in your time?" Rin asked.
"Far from it," Archer said with a hint of disgust as he was reminded as to how a pain in the ass the said servant is. " The masters that is constant in the fifth cycle are always you, Sakura, Illya, Lancer's master and my other self. the remaining masters varied but mostly are unlucky nobles. The key word is unlucky as it never ends well with them."
"Noble?" Marisbury inquire.
"Yes, most of the time the masters for casters and assassin are noble or someone else and if they luck out it will be Medea that will answer their call which will not end well for them.
Now that I think of it, I did consider using a piece of the Argonaut as medium before deciding to go with the piece of the round table.
If assassin has yet to be summoned by a different master, she will summon assassin by her self. That or the old man Makiri will do something to summon the old man from the mountain similar to what we had now. Rin, if you please."
Archer look at his ropes. "It'll be more difficult to continue with this around."
"Haaaah... very well..."
Rin sigh. As Archer is more cooperative than before, she decide to free him.
After his bindings were removed, Archer fix his hair down similar to Shurou's hair before he proceed in tracing seven card with the seven class drawn to it.
"If the fourth grail war proceed naturally and no changes were made by any factor before the fifth war, the event of the fifth will follow specific event."
He took a deep breath before giving all master and servant present a grim look
"First Any wish on the grail will have negative ramification depending on how big the wish is. Destruction, misfortune, you name it." Archer continued. "The fire was the result of preventing the grail from fulfilling a wish that will cause far more damage.
No way no way no way! All of my preparation for this?
Rin slam the table with anguish and pained expression. She knows the information Archer is deliberately hiding from her is important but she never expect it to belike this.
This is absurd!
"Wait-" Saber interrupt as she saw the red magus is down and in an internal struggle. If all he said are true, Saber wonder what kind of effect would her wish have. "How would the grail respond to a wish that may alter the past?"
"Saber... you..." Marisbury mumbles knowing what his servant is saying. Unlike him who only comes for the money, Saber wishes to challenge the sword in the stone. To change the past so that her father would not became like how he is known.
"A redo of the Fuyuki fire is the least possible effect." Archer knot his eyebrows as he recall the time period of a Shirou that summoned Mordred. "Japan or even the present world can go up in flames, It is also possible that it will let you draw the sword on the stones, replacing her role but at the same time, a far bigger tragedy will await your rule because of your wish"
After hearing that, Saber curled her hands to a fist tightly that it started to bleed.
"Master..." Saber look as Marisbury as he put a hand to her shoulder, showing his sympathy.
Archer then look at Rider before moving the card of the rider class forward. Then a small miniature figure of Medusa appear.
"Medusa will answer Sakura's summoning. Most of the time as Rider class and most of the time as the very first servant to be defeated"
Followed by him moving the Berserker card forward where Heracles's figure appear.
"Ilya will be given the sword of Heracles so most common than not, she will summon him under the Berserker class. Four out of five."
Then with the Lancer class as the projected image of Cu chulain appear.
"Most of the time she will be Lancer's master. Because she is fascinated by the child of light ever since she was a child," Archer shifted his gaze to Caren in which she instantly understand what the look meant. "She will use his ear ring as catalyst to summon him mostly as the Lancer class servant if the lancer class has yet be be occupied."
He then move the Archer card forward and shifted his gaze to Rin.
"The Servant you had in my time is the Persian Archer. In most case the summoning is random as it is possible for you to even summon King Arthur depending on your luck. But because of fate I am 90 percent of the time to answer your summon."
He then move the saber card forward and look at Marisbury.
"100 percent of the time, my foolish younger self will summon the Saber class servant unless the saber servant was already summoned." Archer continue. "And 100 percent of the time it will be the same heroic spirits if it is in the saber, lancer and rider class unless-."
"Oi! That percent is too high!" Rin interups "It's not possible unless you use a medium. Something a novice magus would never know!"
"Rin, even if we are ignorant of the whole procedure of the grail war that time," Archer once again shifted his gaze to saber. "The very medium was inside me. I hope you know where I am going with this, Saber."
"Ahahahahahahaha! So that is why that magus reeks something I detest!" Saber exclaim. Her mournful expression revert back to her angry and rude one. She knew there is something to that red haired magus that trigger all of her emotions and it is not affection as her master deduced/tease even though she admire his bravery even a liiiitle bit. 100% not romantic affection to his very being that screams mechanical and yet burns pure with nobility. Definately not her liking him but because of that inside him made her afressive to Shirou.
Or at least that is what the tsundere wants to think.
"Oi! don't drag me to the 4th wall as well!"
"Saber explain," Marisbury said.
"Is it the sword or the sheath?" Saber ignore her master's question and stare at Archer with derange and rabid eyes. She is certain that it is most likely the sheath but a part of her is wishing for the shard of the sword of selection.
*tap tap*
Archer tap the saber card and a small figure of a sword's sheath, of a hollow image of Avalon causing Saber's eyes to widen more in shock. She never imagine she would see the sheat once more after scheming of its theft but this one even though it looks the same has no trace of its original property.
"Avalon!" Saber exclaim which instantly got the attention of all master present.
"King Arthur? No way!" Rin said in disbelief.
"Considering the father had him as servant, it makes more sense if he is able to summon the same servant as well if he has the medium used on the fourth well." Marisbury comments
"Say, if for chance King Arthur was summoned before he did in any class," Caren asked curiously as she tried to pick up on the last topic Archer reveal to them before Rin interups. "What would happen?"
"Now that is an interesting question," Marusbury added.
"If the caster class is open and no other annomaly like his summoning of that witch, it will be Morgan. For the other class, it is either her-" Archer points to Mordred. "or any Saber face servant."
"Saber face?" Rin asked raising an eye brow before looking to Saber who just shrugs her obvious question.
"Saber face or should I say Arthuria face. Servants that looks or resemble her," Archer replied as he project a miniature model of heroic spirits from the Saber Mordred knew and other servant that looked like her.
"The red tyrant of Rome with 'Umu' verbal tick, the pink wolf of Mibu that constantly cough blood and the Maiden of Orleans who has the penchant of poking eyes and uses game lingo like 'it will be the advent for her to start rolling red Jeanne and pink Jeanne and the likes'. They are prime sample to this."
"My oh my, they do look similar." Caren mumbles as she poke the head of the red saber causing it to disappear..
Though the grail being corrupted is not the real issue this time around as the grail had been corrupted way before the fourth. The main issue that I had memories of other timelines and an immortal was summoned means someone is once again someone like Medea is tying to manipulate the grail as a corrupted grail is not capable of doing this base from all those memories that I got.
Archer said to himself than voicing it out to not complicate things more.
"Say Archer, when did the grail became corrupted?" Caren asked. The atmosphere of the room quickly fell. She after all asked the single question that was bothering them from this whole revelation.
"Taking all the information so far means that:
1. the holy grail is corrupted."
Caren followed suit with a gesture of counting with her right hand.
"2. The corrupted grail pave way for the anti heroes. Blue beard, the character base from Gille de Rais, a villain that kill countless children was summoned during the 4th war cycle
3. Fuyuki fire happened to prevent the grail from fulfilling a wish.
4. The very same shard from the fourth is being used to mold Rider's master as second lesser grail and is corrupting her in the process.
In that case, if the fire was cause by destroying the corrupted grail and anti heroes were already summonable during that period means that the grail was already corrupted. This now begs the question as to when, who and how.
And 5. Archer, Emiya-kun is still hiding something from us."
All head now shifted back and forth from Archer to Caren who just voice some of their concerns to Archer who just gave them a brooding look as he try as he may ignore The red devil of venus emitting a dangerous aura.
*ring ring*
It was in the middle of the night, Emiya household. one Kiritsugu Emiya smoke a cigar as he look at the full moon with melancholy and regret. His life is bearing its end, he can feel it and yet, he has yet to be reunited with her.
"Shirou, stop hiding and show your self," Kiritsugu said, not removing his eyes on the moon.
"Old man," the young Shirou replied as he approach him and sat bext to hisbash tray. " You've just retuned fron your trip." Shirou then look at the moon as well. "You know your health isn't getting better."
"I know, Shirou, I know," Kiritsugu said a she blows oble last time before crushing the cigar on the tray. "I am just lamenting how I failed to reach my dream. Knowing the end is near."
"Don't worry!" Shirou stood and face him with a confident smile. "I'll take on your mantle no prob, he curled his hand to a fist and placed it to his chest. "I'll be the greatest hero of justice! So stop worrying and go to sleep."
"Ahahahahaha cheeky brat."
*slap slap*
"Urgh..."
"Tsk..."
Being woken up from a nostalgic dream by a merciless slap followes by a click of the tongue denoting disappointment, Shiro slowly opened his eyes and saw right in front of him a beautiful face of a certain albino maid. A maid with a chest more modest than of Rin
"What the heck?! I am literary not in there and you are still sassing me?! The hell with you!"
"You're awake," the maid from what Shirou remembered was called Sella said with a tone full of venom and disappointment.
As Shirou shakes the wariness he is feeling, He survey the room he is in before stopping to the small master beside the while maid.
"You want to talk, right onii-chan?" Illya said sweetly. "We can talk here."
A few hours back,
Just as Shirou is about to return from his morning jog. Shirou saw the young master trying to figure out what to buy in a vending machine. Being the naive fool that he had been called in numerous occasion, he decide to strike a conversation and invite her as well that resulted to being put to sleep by Illya .
"If you just listen to-"
"Are you by chance proposing an alliance?"
"Not exactly," Shirou answer as he suddenly shifted his gaze to the window. The howl of Berserker and the birds leaving the forest indicate that he is fighting something. Someone.
"As I said, we can talk here," Illya said with a grin "But you better do it fast before Berserker smash your servant to pieces."
"Ilya listen!" Shirou exclaim. cold sweat started to drop from bis forehead. "The grail is corrupted. If we don't do something about it. Who knows what it'll do in this stupid war!"
Slowly but surely, Shirou is able to free him self from Illya's binding with sheer will.
Sensing that this lowlife bug is about to do something, Sella move in front of Illya with a finger pointed at Shirou ready to fire a gandr curse.
"Haaaaaah... Sella, stand down"
"But ojou-sama-"
"How can I verify that you are not lying and that you will not betray me?"
"..."
Shiro shifted his sight to the flooe as he figure out how to prove that he is serious. Her eyes convey distrust. Words alone is not enough.
"See? you truly are a pathetic fool onii-chan."
"Ojou-sama," Sella step forward with burning hatred directed to Shirou. "Why not form a geas to make sure this ver- erm Emiya-sama will not do something strange."
Sella suggest something as if she is siding with this pathetic magus. A suggestion no magus in their right mind would agree that easily. A suggestion that would surely this piece of insect wound reject. At least that was her initial thought.
"Sella do you think any sane magus-"
"Let's do it then! "
"Eh?"
More than Ilya, Sella further voiced her disbelief as the very reason that she suggest this is that no normal magus would do such a thing and him declining it would show her mistress how ugly of a dung bettle this Shirou Emiya is. Yet she was just proven wrong. If anything, this master is not normal and probably a more bad influence to Illya than anything.
"If that is what it'll take to make you listen," Shirou finally broke the binding cast on him as he stand up with sheer vigor causing the chair to fell with a loud bang. "Then let's form a geas so that you can order your servant to stop attacking my Caster."
Emiya residence
"Hello, this is the Emiya residence," Caren began as she pick the phone up ignoring the chaos behind her related to the red master and servant duo.
"..."
"Oh Caster, are you with Shirou?"
"..."
"I see."
"..."
"Very well. I'll let them know."
Illya's mansion
After forming a geas that Shirou will stay by Ilya's side and that he will not betray her, Ilya command Berserker to return as Shirou ran to a battered Caster.
"For a Caster class servant to last against Berserker and Leysritt..." Sela mumble, eyes wide in shock as she follow that bug of a master going to his servant just to make sure he doesnt escape. We are talking about a caster cass servat here. Sella contemplate. And unlike the previous fight, this Caster has no assist from Archer or in possession of gems to temporary supply her with additional prana.
Illya then led Shirou, his servant, Sella and the one named Leysritt who seemed to have damage uniform brought by fighting with caster to the dining hall.
"We have a lot to discuss after this, Master," Caster said coldly. From time to time, Shirou could feel Asura Shishou on her which is not good for him. "So what did my foolish master told you, Berserker's master?."
"That the grail is corrupted," Illya replied coolly. "Like it matters to me in any case. Corrupted or not, I will win the grail."
"So how should we discuss it to them, Caster?" Shirou scratched his left cheek. All Shirou knows is the corruption of the grail base from his conversation with Rider and Caster after their fight. For the typical Shirou, he once again leap into actions before thinking properly of what to do next. Something that Caster is trying sooooo hard to change.
"First we need to inform them of your condition," Caster said as she look at her stupid but lovable master before turnig her gaze o the half homunculus master. "Lady Illya, can I borrow your phone?"
"Sure, so are we going to discuss this over the phone?" Illya asked as she points to the phone nearby.
*ring ring*
*ring ring*
The phone rang a few times before it was pick.
"..."
"Caren, it's me,"
"..."
"Yes, we are with Berserker's master." Caster continue ignoring te ruckus she can hear on the other side, A ruckuss related to a certain red duo of Master and servant.
"..."
"My foolish master wishes to include her on this dialogue. Have you finish the part regarding information my master should not learn at any cost?," Caster continue with no tone of disappointment as she, from time to time look at the resident of the room."
"..."
"Very well," Caster sigh. "I'll call once again but do let them gather in the living room."
After a few minutes, Caster borrowed a wide frame that Berserker now holds and inscribe various runes on its edge while she instruct Caren on the other side of the phone to write the same one on Shirou's television.
A few seconds later after some incantation, the image of the frame change. Similar to a television, it is now showing several figures Illya knows as the Master fighting in this grail war and one additional woman she knows not. Behind them are their servants. Saber sitting near her Master, Marisbury, Rider near the silver haired woman and Rin at the middle with Archer tied upside down behid her for some reason.
"Wow! that's neat!" Illya exclaim, not hiding her fascination.
"You really are an idiot, Shirou!" Rin began, with one hand to her forhead as it shake vertically for a few times.
The Emiyas of both present and future are a pain in more ways than one.
"Rin, you can start at time." Ilya said. "Shirou said that the grail is corrupted right?" her tone has a hint of condescension and mockery. "Is this how you plan to win this? Have us back out for the greater good?"
"Very well, Archer," Rin spat as she look at the ragged form of her servant. "You have to make this runt see our view."
"Haaaaah... If you want proof," Archer said, thinking carefully and knowing this is Illya with Berserker. She won't listen that is for sure. It was only when they defeated Berserker back then that she became docile. "The overlying curse that remain in the after math of the forth war when your father Kiritsugu Emiya ordered Saber to destroy it." Archer look straight at Illya as he mentioned father. Then and there, the condescending smile of the half homunculus vanish.
"EH?"
Shirou stood abruply causing the chair he is sitting to fall, wide eyes of rejection and pail complexion. As pail as a ghost.. "Y-you mean the old man is the one... but that's insane! He would never do that! Someone wishing to be a hero of Justice would never do that!" Shirou's tone is mixed with denial and anguish.
"Take that back Archer!" Shirou demanded. " Take-"
Before Shirou can continue, Caster hit the back of his neck.
"Urgh... Caster..."
"Shirou, we need you to shut up before we can continue," was the last thing Shirou heard before his consciousness fade to black.
"Now that my master is unconscious," Caster said seriously. "You can continue Shirou,"
"Who now?"
Illya turned her head to the servant Caster with a what are you saying look. Same can be said to the slim Sella as Leysritt remain the same.
"Long story short," Caster explain. "Archer here is a future version of Shirou who became a Heroic Spirit by forming a pact with Alaya as one of her counter guardian."
"Let me elaborate," Archer said, knowing what kind of turmoil Illya is currently having right now. "To prevent the wish of the opposing master, he opted to destroy the grail. The disaster ten years ago was the result." He squint his eyes as her remember a painful expression of Kiritsugu in his dying moment. "Aside from the fire, it also cursed Kiritsugu. A curse that weakens him greatly and a curse that is the reason for his death. Illya, Kiritsugu tried his best to retrieve you but on a weaken state he is not capable of doing so."
"T-that's a lie!" Illya yelled, banging the table. "Grandfather told me Papa abandon me because of him!" tears welling up from Illya's eyes as she points accusingly at Shirou's unconscious form. "Because he finds him more valuable than I am!"
"Ojou-sama," Sella steps forward and hold Illya's shoulder. "Please do not be deceive by this individual. They are doing this to get to you."
"Arhcer, personal information won't do." Caster side comment after looking at Ilya who is trying to control her rage.
"Hahahahahaha, that is a good one Rin," Illya huffed, wiping the tears from her eyes. "I better tell grandfather that there is a mole in the family."
"Uhm excuse me but we are going nowhere here," Caren interrupt as she raised her hand. "I am Caren Ortensia, Illya-sama. I do not mean to be rude but we still have a lot of information to pry from Emiya-kun here and I am sure this would also be beneficial for you as well."
"Really?" Illya asked skeptically after recognizing that the silver woman is a member of the church.
"Yes." Caren continued. "Archer here just explained to us that the grail is corrupted but he has yet to answer when. His story suggest that it was already in that state during the fourth war ten years ago.
"Now that is an interesting matter," Illya replied as she analyze the motive of this nun. "So Shirou, was it? care to explain this matter?" she look at Archer with the very same look she had before the discussion start.
"It all started when your grandfather decided to manipulate the grail for the third war."
"Hue?"
"I doubt anyone but him knows of this," Archer continue in his serious and smug tone. "As they scheme to win the war, they manipulate the grail so that they can summon a class outside of the seven servant class that you know all well."
All eyes are now focused on Archer even the two homunculus maid.
"They had an option between the Ruler Class and the Avenger class." Archer pause to make sure all attention are focus to his. "They decided to go for the avenger class and summon all the world's evil Angra Manyu. The servant avenger was weaker than what they expect and was eliminated easily. For some reason, after the war, he remained within the grail and his very presence and nature is corrupting the grail. Summoning of anti heroes like Caster of the previous war and Rider in this war along with the negative repercussion on wish asked upon the grail are the result of that."
"... just what kind of..."
"Illya, you can verify this if you want but we need to discuss the more pressing matter here." Archer interups.
"A-and what could it be?"
"Did you feel assassin's spirit pass to you?"
"..."
Illya didn't answer verbally aside from a frown and a slight head shake.
"That means the old man Makiri is successful at turning Sakura into the second lesser grail."
"What kind of absurdity this is?!" Sela exclaim. "There's another? how is it even possible?"
"I can answer that," this time around, it was rider that speak as she told them once more what had happend to Sakura.
"Say archer, what is the danger of S-sakura being the second lesser grail?" Rin stutters.
"Expect the worst Rin," Archer then give her a gist of the heaven route one of his iteration encounter. How a corrupted Sakura was able to get Saber and Berserker.
"Just what in the world..." as much as Sella wants to deny what she is hearing, she could not sense a lie from this statement from the self proclaim heroic spirit of the future.
"Illya, I'll give you a prediction, " Archer continue. "With Shinji still alive after the fight with Rider, expect him to come to your castle with a new servant. That egotistical king covered in gold, the worst and strongest servant in this war will be the cause of you and your servants demise unless you change your act.."
Matou residence, late that night.
As Rin, Caren and Marisbury apporaches the Matou residence,
"You're still alive," the old man matou said to the person in front of him that rudely entered their mansion.
The individual look around the room with disdain as he heard echos coming from Sakura. Familiar echoes he knows all too well.
"I was gone for a while and you already found a replacement to do that to her?" the man sneer.
"I have no use for a failure like you."
"Ahahahahahahaha! We'll see about that,"
Snap*
With a snap of a finger, an individual wearing gold armor appear behind him.
Seeing the familiar gold servant, the old man frown, swear start to drop from his forehead as he also calls fort his familiars
"Say your prayers, old geezer."
-F/D-
"Urgh..."
Waking up with a sore body, Shirou quickly opened his eyes the moment he felt his right arm is cuff to something and his left arm is strapped to his back.
This doesn't look good...
Shirou thought to himself as he was reminded of his first time in the Einsbern mansion.
"Now then...- CRAP!"
Shirou began analyzing his binding along side the fancy room he is in. A fancier room compared to the one Ilya gave him and the information he got sent shivers to his spine.
No good... No good... No good... No good... No good...
"Trace on!"
knowing the royal impending doom that he is about to face, he quickly trace the key to his cuff. He then manipulate it to fly towards the keyhole to unlock himself. The next thing he did was to remove the binding on his left arm and legs before quickly exiting the room.
I really am glad shishou trained me well
But what he sees at the exit remind him of his E rank luck.
"That was fast," said by the very last person Shirou wanted to meet. "I expect no less from you."
the person said as she continue to flip the page of a report Shirou is well familiar with. A report he mailed to 'that' person while adding a small note that he will take an indefinite leave at the last page.
"So tell me, Emiya," that dreadful person, Lorelei began as she casually take a sip of tea ignoring the obvious battle stance Shirou have the moment he exited the room. "Is that really the best way to file a leave?"
"...No" Shirou answered honestly, his eyes fixated to hers. "But I doubt you would even allow me after reading that." The that in question is his report regarding the higher form of Grandation air, Projection/Tracing.
"On the contrary," Lorelei said as she consider the proper word to say. "I might even allow it in exchange for you heading the experiment. Even making my men be able to project useful mystic codes is enough."
"..."
"Uncommon are indeed rare but artificially changing ones element is not impossible."
"And what about my origin?"
"If I am to consider you as a sample," Lorelei closes the report and place i on the mini table on her left. "I'd say your origin just amplify the quality of your work."
"..."
"And yet here you are," Lorelei squint her eyes. "Not only that you demand a leave in a crude manner that none of my man had EVER done before, you also went AWOL and the next thing I know, you are interfering in another worlds' affair." Her tone is icy as the aura she is emitting. "Do you know how shameful it is to asked that vampire for a favor?"
Crap... she knew...
Cold sweat fell from Shirou's skin. The day he sent the report to the Queen via snail mail, Shirou headed back to his room and went straight to the drawer Caster cast her runes on. The so called 'do not compare it to that robot cat's door'. Using the hint Mikiya provided, he instantly know what he is referring to. The gate to the land of Shadows and the Key to enter it. Taking out the spear given to him after their first encounter with the King of Heroes, Shirou utter the command to activate the noble phantasm that activate the runes of the gate as well.
That in turn transport him to the dark forest of the Land of shadows brimming with entities that if he fight them solo is beneath him but as a group will surely devour him to pieces. After a few of these monstrosity, he headed back to the portal that is slowly closing that in turn somehow transport him in a comfort room with a younger version of him self laid unconscious on the floor naked for some reason.
"So tell me Emiya," Her tone suddenly took a further dive lower reaching sub zero. "How long will you keep your Reality marble a secret?"
"...you!"
"Don't act surprise," a fiendish grin form as Shirou traced two familiar Chinese blade "I was there with the Kaleidoscope when you cast that against your opponent and with the old vampire's help, I was able to see what is inside your reality marble." though for some reason there is a hint of amazement in her tone. "Do you know that world of dusk where you can see a shadow of a castle from afar and full of noble phantasm and mystic code scattered far and wide on a grassy field is useful when we are hunting especially with Apostle Ancestors?"
"Tell me," Shirou said darkly as he sense other force outside of the room also focus their agression to him. Lowering his weapon but not his guard. "You already put a sealing designation on me right?"
Lorelei answered him with a knowing grin followed by throwing a different folder that contain certain information. From that folder is a picture of a bespectacle woman he is certain a student from his high school. Beside her is a knight figure.
"A fake grail war is being held in America," Lorelei switch to her as business tone and aura. "The church is already there. I want you to assist that person."
"What is the catch here?" Shirou asked. For certain he is sure the grail had been dismantled by Rin years ago. "Why is there a new grail war?"
"A fake grail war," Lorelei corrected. "I have no doubt that they used fragments from Fuyuki as the Einzbern and that vampire gave a statement that they were not involve in its creation."
"You already have her," Shirou asked. Knowing there's a catch here. "Why sent me as well?"
"Intel says that they spot a Dead Apostle in that area," Lorelei's one turn grim. "A Dead Apostle with a grail must not happen. You are to Eliminate the apostle and assist Sayaka Saijou in claiming the grail or even the fragment of the grail."
"Is that all?"
"No. As means to wave half of the money I owe to Marisbury due to a foolish bet, he needs you to deliver the fragment to him for research purposes.
"Are you referring to his plan for the creation of Chaldea?"
"Oh? You've heard of it as well?"
"He did contact me once," Shirou explain to answer the Queen's raised eye brow. "He tried recruiting me as a part time consultant."
"Hooh~ Ah yes," Lorelei added with a fiendish grin. "Try not using your reality marble. This world is still not fully aware of that after all."
"You are asking for the impossible. You are sending me in a war with servants and dead apostle after all,"
"I know right?"
For some reason, the smile she have on her face kind of resemble that fake nun's true smile when seeing someone, him, suffer.
"Just my luck..."
-F/D-
Aaaaaaaan cut
A/N: And with that this chapter came to a close. This ch mostly exposition to tie lose ends on the over all narrative of the story.
We partially retcon as to how Avalon still functions DESPITE Arthuria not being his servant (to be more believable) in this war by linking its function to the the divergence point introduced in the prologue.
Originaly divergence point was to meant to introduce several ways Shirou can obtain medium to summon different servant.
The exposition of both Arc and Archer also pay homage to the 3 primary route of FSN and every existing fanfics as a form of different realities like those that follows the fifth war cycle and have Shirou as lead character summon a different servant (Nero and Okita respectively, etc.) with the exception of Jeanne as that pretty much screams Fate capsule servant all over it. For the character of Arc and Flauros. We rarely uses OCs so they are also existing characters within the series with Flauros being the ones from FGO and Arc from extella just him with his name shortened. ASFAIK correct us on this one if we are mistaken but Lev existed in universe to the fate series and not just the FGO narrative as he is a former classmate of Touko as per wiki. With Touko also existing in FSN as per Heaven's Feel scenario. In this story, he didn't kill himself (as per clocktower 2015) so we got the very same one from FGO.
With Shirou going to meet with Sayaka, we are now at the half part of the story that will tie the first story scenario to the last but due to we lack intensive knowlede of strangr fake, we will skip that the fake grail war cycle.
Will also take temporary break from writing this fic as we will focus on Ai's story and the remake of the deleted ch of emerald.
For the review likes and follow thanks.
Made some minor changes. Corrected some grammar and spelling err. V1