Epilogue
In time, Shirou and Rin cleared Misa of any involvement in Sircolia's coup against Lord El-Melloi The Second, citing her actions in the Helsinki Grail War to oppose Sircolia and his magi as a mitigating factor. Furthermore, she continued to aid in the effort against Genghis Khan who came close to using the Helsinki Grail to rule the world.
After Misa found herself free from the chains of her past, Shirou and Rin adopted her as a member of their family. Aasaa welcomed her into the family with open arms. Embracing her, she expressed immeasurable joy, as all her goals were finally achieved. Both of them looked forward to a fun-filled future together, for they had a lifetime's worth of problems behind them already.
Shiori used her wish to repair the damage done to Helsinki, while Florence Nightingale wished for a physical body so she may continue to walk the Earth, bringing salvation to those in need. She vowed to wander the Earth eternally, saving anyone who needed it. It was a fitting fate for the Lady with the Lamp.
Shiori wanted to follow Florence Nightingale on her quest to save people, however, she turned her down. Deciding that Shiori had a life to lead, Florence Nightingale insisted she embark on this journey alone. In the end, they compromised, as Shiori would occasionally accompany her Servant, the two of them travelling the world on a quest to bring help to those who needed it.
The Helsinki Grail was placed under House El-Melloi's protection, it's current whereabouts unknown to almost all magi. Only Aasaa and Shiori knew, besides the magi sent to protect it, and they intended to keep it that way forever. One Grail War was more than enough.
Under Aasaa's influence, House El-Melloi managed to erect a statue for Lord El-Melloi The Second. The statue paid respects to his work to dismantle the original Holy Grail, and contain the Helsinki Grail. They honoured him for being the first to have the courage to go against tradition and decide that the Grail Wars were not worth the trouble and risk. Some time later, a statue of Hannes joined him, recognizing that it was he who did the groundwork under Lord El-Melloi The Second's guidance and instruction.
Years passed. Now a senior instructor at the Clocktower, Aasaa sported a full head of white hair, a mark of honour for his mastery of Projection magic. His devotion to his craft was spurred by the lessons he learned from the Helsinki Grail War, and his talent rivaled the senior magi. Begrudgingly, they eventually gave him some respect and recognition, and allowed him to give lectures every so often. Aasaa managed to secure himself a cozy office, a little sanctuary for him to retreat to and reflect on the lessons the Helsinki Grail War taught him. He once believed he would never forget about it, for initially, the Grail War never left his mind. Then, it only occurred to him a few times a day, and then once a day. Eventually he only remembered it once every week, then once every month, and soon he was so occupied with other matters that he had to specifically set aside time to reflect on it. He vowed to never let go of its memory completely. He found it a personal obligation to remember the heroes of that event, the losses and sacrifices, the hopes and triumphs. Every moment had untarnishable value to him.
Aasaa's quiet revelry ended with the abrupt entry of his assistant. His face was red, and he perspired profusely. Aasaa realized that something must have flustered him, and sat up, paying him due attention.
"Sir-" he stammered, uncomfortable around a hero of the Helsinki Grail War.
"Call me Aasaa, no matter what." Aasaa sat up to pay attention to him with kind eyes.
"Sorry, Aasaa, we are still receiving reports that a mysterious entity is wandering non-magi society, interfering with significant events." A pile of papers shifted uncomfortably in his arms as he blurted out the report to him.
Aasaa made space on his desk for him to place the papers. "The Wandering Angel? Again?"
"Yes, that is what some of the magi have named the entity," he continued, thanking Aasaa for his help.
"Go on," Aasaa said. He knew where this was going, and did his best to hide his smile.
"They, or it will show up at times of disaster to rescue the wounded and dying. It has happened for years now, and we are no closer to getting to the bottom of it. Many are concerned they will expose our society to the non-magi."
"How many are out there?" Aasaa feigned ignorance of the matter, expressing genuine interest. He had long sought for a chance to meet Shiori and Florence Nightingale again. Misa spent most of her days safe in Fuyuki. He continued to think, deciding that Misa should be present too the next time he meets Shiori and Florence Nightingale.
"The incidents occur one at a time, most of the time, it's one entity, but yesterday, we saw two of them." Aasaa's assistant presented him a picture taken in the aftermath of a tornado in America. Two figures were distinguishable, one holding a lamp while they tended to the wounded.
"I see. I can't help you, because I fear this isn't my department." Aasaa calculated his words and actions. He knew the Clocktower still had opinions against anyone or anything exposing the secret world they had.
"That's where you're wrong Sir, I mean, Aasaa."
"Oh?"
"The others sent to investigate failed to find anything, though there are certain that you, the 2nd Hero of Justice, will succeed where others have failed." The assistant bumbled through and took a seat before Aasaa's desk, apologizing as he tripped, and noisily dragged the chair across the floor. Aasaa did not mind, and tried to remind him that his office was, and always will be, an informal environment.
"That's what I'm called now? I am honoured. Truly. Though I'm afraid I must refuse the job."
"Alright, sorry to bother you." The assistant started to rise, though he showed signs of awkwardness, given that he just took a seat only seconds ago.
"No worries. Thank you for the news, it pleases me to know someone or something is out there looking out for the downtrodden."
The assistant returned to his seat. Whatever Aasaa said was worthy of attention. "Aasaa, you support this entity? It risks exposing us, and that it the most important detail."
"I can't officially support it, though personally, this entity has done nothing but good for people and should not be stopped." Aasaa leaned back on his chair, clapping his arms together, stretching a little. He did all he could to mask the joy and satisfaction he felt, knowing that Shiori and Florence Nightingale were out there being heroes. Thinking further, he found it off how he did not itch to join them. Alas, he felt burnt-out after the Grail War, and things always seemed to get in the way whenever he wanted to go for another adventure. He decided he had made enough excuses. What was he doing in a cozy office while Shiori was out there rescuing people from tornadoes?
"An interesting opinion. May I quote you? I promise it won't be used against you." The assistant already had his pen out. If there was one thing he knew about Aasaa, it was that he always stood by what he said.
"Go ahead. It's time we changed some of our priorities anyway." Aasaa folded his arms, straightening his body, as if quietly issuing a challenge. He did not fear the bureaucracy and rigid mindset of the other magi.
"If you say so. Is that all?" the assistant asked.
"Yup." Aasaa smiled, waiting for the assistant to leave before making his call. On his communicator. It was the same one Hannes gave him to call the Clocktower from Helsinki on Day 1 of the Grail War.
"Misa, how are things in Fuyuki? Taking care of Mom and Dad?" Aasaa spoke quickly, awaiting to hear his sister's bubbly voice.
"More like they're taking care of me." Misa sounded as if she was eating something. "This white chocolate soufflé is phenomenal."
"Awesome. So, I have this plan to meet Shiori and Florence. You in?"
"Me? In? Of course! Don't be late like that time." Misa huffed, reminding Aasaa of the time he failed to attend her birthday because a junior magus begged him to help him with an essay, and the hero in him could not refuse.
"It's not like that time."
"Heard that one before," Misa said. Aasaa sighed, only to receive a giggle from her.
Aasaa and Misa wandered the Gobi Desert. It was in the dead of night, and the moonlight lit the shifting sands. A light orb followed Misa around, as she stroked it occasionally, giggling as it flickered and flashed on contact.
Aasaa smiled at her. She was finally happy with the life she led, her carefree giggle told him so.
They found a caravan lost in the desert, its passengers out of fuel and water. There they were. Shiori and Florence Nightingale, tending to the dehydrated. A glowing orb of fire gave the passengers warmth, as the desert can get cold at night.
Aasaa and Misa waited so Shiori and Florence Nightingale could finish their work. With Item Creation, Florence Nightingale created fresh supplies and fuel for them. She healed the passengers with Nurse Of Steel. With their vitality restored, Shiori gave them directions to the nearest settlement so they could return to civilization. Aasaa understood the significance of Florence Nightingale using her abilities. No longer tied to the Helsinki Grail, with a physical body, all the mana she used had to come from somewhere. Even a simple healing ability would be draining. He remembered persuading a magus to tie Florence Nightingale to the leylines under Helsinki Old Church to reduce the cost, though her mana was still limited.
Watching the caravan take off, fading in the distance as a small cloud of dust, Shiori noticed Aasaa and Misa approaching them. She turned to them, removed her headgear and cried out their names in joy.
Aasaa had no words for their reunion. He simply hugged her.
Misa quoted her long-gone Servant and friend. "Where there is great love, there is often little display of it."
"I'm so glad to see you again. I've been busy, switching between my normal life in Helsinki and helping Florence." Shiori gripped Aasaa and Misa as they huddled together.
"Sorry we did not keep in touch. Stuff keeps coming up at the Clocktower," Aasaa said.
"And I've been bumming around in Fuyuki, Japan," Misa said. "But the food and company's great."
Aasaa let out a hearty laugh. Misa was the one who watched over their parents Shirou and Rin while Aasaa worked at the Clocktower. Being the one to watch over them had certain gastronomic benefits, as was the custom for anyone sharing a roof with Shirou.
In the end, the 4 of them made plans to finally begin the adventure Shiori and Misa promised to embark on. They agreed to start in Spain, Don Quixote's homeland.
What followed next was not a catastrophe.
From re-enacting Don Quixote's attempt to attack windmills amidst barrels of laughter from Shiori, to Florence Nightingale vanishing for 2 days only to be found at a nearby orphanage that ran out of power in China.
Then came the time Aasaa used Projection magic to replace their lost items when they left their luggage behind in Tunisia, and then said Projected items fading to mana while they were being used during the tour of neighbouring Morocco.
They did not catch a break when Aasaa contracted some weird disease in Chile, and depended on Florence Nightingale's healing, or the time Misa managed to turn the entire Amazon Rainforest on her with her ceaseless chattering and giggling.
Next, they ended up in Australia, where Shiori begged the others to leave before the first day was up because of the heat, though she later grew attracted to a snack called "fairy bread", and insisted they stay a little longer. With Florence Nightingale at their side, they had no reason to fear the wildlife that many had warned them about.
Their last destination was a tour of Helsinki, revisiting all the places they shared moments of joy and moments of grief. Places they once fought in, places they once bonded in. Walking down a street he fought Genghis Khan on, Aasaa could almost hear the faint galloping of his horse's hooves.
They went to the silver birch where Hannes rested, pleased that it was undisturbed. After paying their respects to him, Aasaa could not help but feel that Hannes was smiling at them from beyond the grave.
It snowed again when they made their way to Suomenlinna, to revisit the underground fortress and dine at the café Shiori and Aasaa had a "date" in. At long last, Misa had the chance to try the food there. Nevertheless, Florence Nightingale made somewhere between 6 and 19 attempts to steal her food, displaying a fun-loving side she inherited from Hou Yi that she rarely expressed. Shiori once again complained about the soup having too many potatoes. In the end, Aasaa had to fetch her a cup of coffee to wash down the potato-ey soup.
Smiling at how some things never changed, how he did not want them to change, Aasaa reversed his stance on the Grail Wars. He now believed in its power to grant wishes. The Helsinki Grail brought them together, from different corners of the world, and made them one. Now that was the true miracle.
Submit any character ideas (I will be open to SYOCs) via messaging my profile or through the review system. I'm considering writing a sequel to this story.
Thanks for reading. The End.