AN: Sorry for the chapter being so short, but I'll make sure to release the next part (which will likely be longer than usual) within the week.
Side note, how many of you are going to see Heavens Feel 3? I'm excited, I prefer Shirou with a UBW ideology, but damn did Ufotable do amazing with these movies. Top notch animation and voice acting all around.
They managed to catch up to Sakura and Atalante fairly quickly, apparently Sakura had insisted that they wait a couple blocks down from the mall. Atalante had tried to convince her otherwise, staying in one place for a long time out in the open was the last thing someone trying to stay low should do, but her purple haired master was adamant they wait for Shirou. Dragging the girl to the church crossed her mind, but she quickly dismissed it as impractical.
"So, you're finally here then?" Atalante asked the two approaching her. She turned her head to Arturia. "Nice outfit. It suits you, Ice Queen."
Salter grunted, not taking the bait. Arguing with her teammates wouldn't get her anywhere, even if that insult made her blood boil.
"I'm glad you're finally done." Sakura smiled at the two, walking up to Shirou and placing her hand in his. "Now that you're here, shall we go?"
Shirou nodded. "Yeah, lets head out. It's almost evening, so not many people should be around to bother us on our way there. He returned the smile and reassuringly squeezed her hand. She may not have shown it on the outside, but he could tell that she was worried. Even if that worry was completely irrational. Shirou had a plan in place, one that wouldn't go wrong. It couldn't.
The group of four walked down the street leading towards the church. From here, they'd just have to go straight for a couple miles to reach the holy building. They probably looked pretty strange to passerbys, with each of them in such different styles of clothes. Shirou dressed like an old man, Sakura like a regular teenager, Arturia like a punk, and Atalante like she was going to a formal ball. They still stood out less than they would if his servant donned battle amour, so Shirou still counted it as a win.
"Shirou." Atalante said, getting his attention. "There was something I was going to ask you."
"Oh?" Shirou raised an eyebrow. "What do you want to know?" Hopefully it wasn't about strategy, he didn't want to reveal his hand just yet even to allies. Who knew what Zouken could do with servants? Shirou knew his grandfather had intimate knowledge of the grail, far more than he should. Beyond that, the Matou family had provided the command seals that made the ritual possible. What if he could influence servants in some way?
"It is about your magecraft if you don't mind. I observed you practicing it this morning, before dawn." This earned Shirou a glare from Sakura. What? It was fun and a good way to get his mind off of things, sue him. He didn't need sleep, he needed answers about reality!
"What about it?" He asked, ignoring Sakura's sigh. She could lecture him later.
"Most of my companions were warriors, so I don't know much of magecraft. Forgive me if this is a stupid question, but what is the true difference between alteration and alchemy? I know you've described it as alteration being more for concepts while alchemy is related to properties, but what true difference is there?" Atalante said inquisitively.
Shirou looked around. No civilians were anywhere close to them, so the chance of anyone hearing them was next to nonexistent. He didn't want to have to get blood on his hands, clearing someone's memory took way too long for his plans so he would've had to outright kill them.
"Well, there's not exactly a simple answer to that question." Shirou explained, shrugging. "After all, there are numerous types of alchemy. What the Einsburns and the Atlas Institute do are totally different from both each other and my arts. Alteration is a bit simpler to explain, but like all magecraft it can vary."
Atalante nodded, motioning for him to continue. "I understand. Atlas is an organization with a similar purpose to the counter force, correct?"
"Somewhat, though not exactly. Their methods are entirely different." Shirou told her. "Anyways, the basis for alchemy is changing something physically into another object in a permanent manner. It doesn't create anything new, and a lot of things need to be factored into the equation of changing it. Which is why I use changing properties to achieve this, it helps me keep track of everything."
"And alteration?" Sakura added, already knowing the answer.
Shirou smiled at her, reminding himself to thank her later. "Alteration changes the general use, or conceptual characteristics of an object. Rather than turning lead into gold, it can make lead as light as gold or give it the ability to shine. That shine wouldn't be yellowish or bright, it would still be ebony just like lead unlike with alchemy." Shirou paused for a moment. "It is useful with alchemy though. Changing the concepts to be more like another object makes changing the properties far easier."
Atalante smiled. "Thanks for clearing that up kid. I appreciate it."
Arturia looked at him blandly. "Is that all you can do? I can understand the use of that for a researcher, but that sounds pretty useless for combat."
Shirou huffed. "I'm perfectly able to fight. Alteration and alchemy may not seem that useful, but I'm able to use it incredibly quickly. While there are people better than me at the act itself, I'm probably the best at applying it in situations like these."
His servant still didn't look convinced. "So, they are the only things you can do.
Shirou grimaced. "No, I also am great at structural grasping and reinforcement. I can do projection too, though I'm not too good at it yet. I can't seem to make anything that isn't related to sheaths, swords, or the fae due to my origin unfortunately."
Arturia relaxed, at least her master wasn't a novice.
"You have a triple origin?" Atalante asked, sounding impressed.
"No," Shirou denied. "I wish I did, but it's all counted in one origin. If they were separate, it'd be really useful but it's more of a hindrance for now."
Everyone fell silent for a while before Arturia begrudgingly gave her advice. "You should try projecting holy or demonic swords."
"Hmm?" Shirou hummed.
"Fae are adept at curses and blessings. Plus, swords usually have sheaths don' they?" She rhetorically asked. "So blessed or cursed swords would be a good common point between your origins."
Shirou was surprised, that was incredibly insightful. He'd have to try that out sometime. "Thanks Arturia, I'll do that."
She rolled her eyes. "Don't be so surprised, he may have been a fool, but Merlin taught me some valuable information. I needed knowledge of magecraft if I wanted to predict Morgan le Fey's movements and form a proper strategy."
That explains it.
Atalante cleared her throat. "Speaking of strategy, what approach are we taking to the other servants in this war master?"
"Well I was thinking that we should sit most of it out and let the others destroy each other, but what do you think Shirou?" Sakura, who had mostly stayed out of the previous conversation, spoke up.
"We'll d-"
"We will crush our enemies one by one." Arturia coldly demanded. "There is no point in hiding like a cowering Assassin class servant. We have the numerical advantage and we should press it while we can. Waiting will just encourage the weaklings to congregate." There was that cold warrior. Shirou had almost forgotten that Saber could act like that, with her showing her more tsundere characteristics for most of the day.
"That's not necessarily true," Atalante countered. "There could already be alliances, but those not built on strong bonds won't last a while. This is a war, they'll eventually turn on each other."
"And what if they decide to take us out before then?" Arturia replied condescendingly. "Will we just rely on mere chance?"
"That's not what I'm saying and I think you know that." Atantle said, frowning. "But I get your point. I still think gathering our strength and waiting for an opportunity would benefit us though."
"That may be true, but making our own opportunities is far wiser and more certain."
Shirou butted in. "It doesn't matter for now, just agree to disagree and we'll discuss what will happen after we're done dealing with this issue."
"What issue?" Sakura asked confused.
Shirou just pointed down the road. A few hundred meters away two servants and two masters were in the middle of a heated brawl.
Shirou's Origin and Element -
Origin: Sword 33.3% Sheath 33.3% Fae 33.3%
Element: Sword 33.3% Sheath 33.3% Light 33.3%