Uncovered Facts and a shiny way of cheating

1997, December...

Reines' education has a lot of stuff to do.

Her workload growing up is enough to make a normal adult cry, but indeed, childhood trauma is default setting for any magi that they all develop cold hearts growing up.

Not only that, she was also a product of Eugenics and Grooming just to be suited to a family's Magic Crest as the damn things are subject to Transplant Rejection. And to continue the family, there MUST be one who can take on the Crest, for that someone to become a Family Head.

But now, one of her worries is over: poisoned meals, thanks to Lolly that she actually gets to eat piping hot food for the first time in her life as unless you're a Magus Parent, expect assassination attempts between siblings growing up for the Crest and food goes through numerous tests before it can reach you thus its cold by then. Though that did NOT keep her from storing supplies on her person as a precaution. She has a silk pouch she hides in her boots where it contains a space-expansion spell that also induces Time Stasis enough to fill a warehouse. Thus she keeps MREs, Medicine, Tools, etc in there.

Considering everything including basics is her foster parents' jobs, Waver will not teach her yet, not when he's busy learning Lordship for Dummies while finishing Kayneth's unfinished works. That'll have to wait until she's eleven years old, before she attends Clock Tower at sixteen.

She also aims NEVER to repeat Kayneth's mistakes as a Magus.

xxx

Waver Velvet learned how to be a Lord from Kayneth's father who was very strict and hard on him after getting wind how Kayneth died. Thankfully nothing about his self-perceived involvement in it or he's long dead. Reines forbade him from being 'an idiot' as he is her Proxy.

It was all very stressful, even if he sleeps in a healing tank at night to keep going and going.

But he swore to be different.

He would become a Lord worthy of staying by Rider's side one day. He would never do anything to earn his scorn when they meet in the hereafter, was his goal. Thus for a magus, he retained his morals and conscience, while gaining training while still juggling school and being a teacher.

He has few students for now, but he can focus on them as a result. He lived up to his name destroyer and dissector. He asked a few questions of his students, and pointed where they'll excel at and weak at, telling them to perfect their strengths, and hone the rest to be versatile as being a one-trick pony will get you killed.

He coached them individually after classes. He was a teacher they could come to without fearing for their life, and understood that he actually cares for their growth as a person and as a magus, while instilling humanity in them that his students have more conscience than the rest of the tower put together.

He also taught them an important lesson in life.

'As you know, we Magi think logically. Most tend to give up when there's no way out according to logic, based on one's knowledge. That's what they get for being a one-trick pony, being controlled by one's logic yet never bother trying out anything else.' Waver would tell them. 'But I didn't raise quitters. Keep thinking. Think outside the box. Get creative and a solution most would never imagine was possible, will be available to you. That's what it means, to be my student.' he would tell them with a smile. 'You'll live a lot longer and be more successful.'

End result, his first batch of students adore him to bits as they gained emotional and mental support they would otherwise, never get from their families. They put up a front, but when he made it clear 'I'm approachable'...they were what any broken teenager would be.

Childhood trauma is default setting for Magi indeed and they had no one to turn to for all their hardships to become perfected magi and successors and they don't care what happens to their children as long as they get results. Modified in a lab? Various PAINFUL treatments? Forced to move afterward for training?

This gave Waver the impression that children of Magi are no more than tools of their parents in a laboratory, and this kinda upbringing is forever in a vicious cycle.

Like Rider did for him, he became their source of strength in hard times while maintaining his professionalism and giving quality education.

Though there's...two things wrong in his class.

Svin Glascheit, the first child he took in is from the Glascheit Family, practitioners of Beast Magecraft.

As it's well-known to inevitably drive its practitioners insane, beast magecraft is an all but extinct tradition. Just about the only known family who still practices it is Svin's...not because they're uniquely resistant to its drawbacks, but because they figured any given family member going insane didn't really matter as long they could keep passing the Magic Crest on.

He was a prodigy who finished Fundamentals at a young age, thus ran away from home, for the Clock Tower and wandered around until he found the boy, dorty and hungry but Waver knew by one look he's from a high-class lineage. He thus took him in as his apprentice.

A year later, another young child came to the tower and gained...quite the reputation.

However, none of the professors accepted him as their student, despite his skill, as he lacked the normal ideology of a mage. He started in a sub faculty of necromancy that was run by Rocco Belfeban, head of summoning. After a few months, he was moved into another faculty, but the same situation happened as faculties couldn't keep up with his talents.

With his unparalleled skill, the professors did not know how to or rather weren't able to improve his skills and he was a victim of animosity by others. Despite this, the clocktower's purpose is to improve the talents of magi, so they would be at a loss if they let go of someone of Flat's talent. However, he drove away every professor that was interested in helping him. Since this went on for a year, He was on the verge of expulsion due to the many times he had to resubmit paperwork. He thought that no one would accept him. A professor named Rocco Belfeban wanted to change Flat as the boy was going to professor to professor, but then he eventually was stunned by Flat's personality and his other aspects.

So Rocco pawned the kid to him.

He wore a fake smile, showing how broken the kid was. And Svin wanted to kill him on sight, perceiving how dangerous he was. However, he had to raise Flat anyway, trusting Svin's instincts in secret. Better the danger be directed for good than bad anyway. Brats are now nine years old.

"At least both are prodigies who already mastered the Fundamentals," he thought that he can enroll both in Modern Magecraft Theory as their legal guardian due to their circumstances. He went to Policies first, before the Admin.

And went back to teaching.

xxx

Year 1999...

After stuffing her friends in the tanks, Diantha investigated Hilda Weasley on their behalf...by simply asking Waver himself.

'Hilda Weasley huh? What's with the interest?'

'She might be of my kind by name alone.' said Diantha. 'Relatives to my former friends in Hogwarts through her father Tristan Weasley. He was a gambling addict who drove his family to poverty when before, they were rich.' she said. 'The rest of the clan disowned him in name, magic and blood so he's now a Squib. Yet despite that he still kept the name. When I checked her files, she is indeed one of us due to our unique trait.'

'Magic Circuit Composition that's called abnormal of abnormals.' Waver chuckled.

Because of that, Diantha and Sirius can pull crazy feats like Flat could on a whim.

'What is she like in your classroom?'

'She seems to be a very withdrawn girl and hates being touched.' said Waver. 'When I subtly scanned her, she has numerous bruises on her person. I suspect abuse.' he said. 'Even if my students liked and trusted me, she was afraid of asking for help.'

'Mm...if that was true, its also a tragedy that she can never approach her relatives for help as they all gained irrational hatred towards Tristan Weasley for what he's done, that children born after are made to swear Unbreakable Vows to never help anyone who descended from him. Makes me wonder how she discovered Clock Tower when nobody in my society knows Magi exist yet she somehow figured that this place exists, so she came here instead for her education.'

'Look into it.' said Waver. 'I would, but I barely had time to even sleep.'

So Diantha did, by following Hilda Weasley.

Hilda lived in an apartment, clearly all by herself. Living by herself and then Diantha cast Imperio on her when she sat down on the couch to reach for a remote to watch TV.

'Hilda, why do you have bruises on your body?' Diantha asked the imperioused girl.

'My boyfriend did it.' said Hilda. 'He was too controlling of me until one day I got fed up with him and killed him before he kills me.'

'What about your parents? Who are they?'

'My father is Daniel Weasley and mother is Elaine Kramer.' Hilda spoke robotically.

'Grandfather?'

'Tristan Weasley.'

'Do your parents know you're abused by your boyfriend?'

'No. I never told them.'

'Were they good parents?'

'I never knew my father but my mother is still alive, working for a bank.'

'How come?'

'He was financially-exploited and abused by grandfather according to my mum's stories, threatening his mum's life if he doesn't cooperate.' said Hilda. 'My parents who were about to elope were supposed to meet while mother was pregnant with me, but dad never came...when she subtly snuck to his house, she saw grandpa burying a large black bag in the backyard with a shovel. She knew he killed him for daring to leave him without money and its clear grandma died too. Mum had to run because of me.' Diantha can only shake her head in pity.

'Is she aware of magic?'

'Yes. Dad told her that he's a wizard and would often do magic for her. So she told me about that growing up if I had the power.' said Hilda. By her words, Diantha understood that Hilda is a half-blood. 'He used it to help mum get a good, high-paying job far, far away from Darlington where they used to live after securing himself a job before they can elope for real. They were gonna run because dad was in danger...grandpa got to him first. At least he doesn't have magic to track us down to London and he doesn't know about mum so we're safe. He just thinks dad will leave him.'

'Do you know you have other relatives?'

'No...if any, dad would have told mum. He wasn't sure other than grandpa. Dad's convinced grandpa's an orphan though. Since he never knew if he had relatives.'

'How did you discover Clock Tower?'

'A few months after secondary school, I met this guy...he saw me kill Martin with magic.' said Hilda. 'He asked why, and told me to go to Clock Tower after knowing why I did what I did.'

'I see...his name?'

'Kurou Adashino.' said Hilda. 'I told mum about this school and she let me come here since, hoping I'll be stronger than dad, incase grandpa finds out about us.' she said. 'Adashino helped me enroll and the rest, I did by myself.'

'I see. Forget you and I talked, and go back to watching TV.'

'OK...'

xxx

Waver's Office in Clock Tower...

Diantha told him what she found out.

'I see...Kurou Adashino huh? He left on an expedition to Albion with some of his students months back, so I never met the guy...' said Waver. 'He was the former head of this department until I claimed it.'

'I see. Well, Hilda will take a while to recover, and she's not entering a relationship any time soon. Too traumatized.'

'Understandable. But its good that she will focus on her studies for now.' said Waver. 'It'll take time for her to recover and trust men again. Those bruises on her body, forever a cruel reminder of where she came from.'

xxx

Weasley Compound, where the Burrow used to be...

Molly Weasley got a snowy-white owl flying into her kitchen and it dropped a letter on her counter before leaving, so she picked it up.

"Nameless?" she blinked before checking it for any spells, before opening it.

It was a letter from Diantha Potter, a report about Hilda Weasley, a third cousin they know not, descended from the 'banished Weasley' who was a bastard down to the end. She investigated the girl who was a student of a friend of hers on behest of her kids. A relative who's age 16. The details got Molly Weasley scowling in disgust and sympathy.

Last known location of Tristan Weasley is in Darlington, a town in Durham County in northern England.

"Serves him right to be abandoned in poverty. Looks like he'll never change until he dies." Molly thought coldly with a pursed lip, feeling sorry for the man's family, but they're under an Unbreakable Vow out of anger after all. It seems at least Elaine and Hilda will never become anything like Tristan any time soon.

She mailed Weasley Relatives about the report that thankfully, photos included that she could copy.

Thank goodness for Percy's owl Hermes. Errol's...er...permanently retired.

Now then, her kids will be away from home for a while, recovering from severe school stress, they're not in a good condition to work just yet. It'll be just her and Percy for a while...Arthur's training just finished, he'll be home next week.

xxx

Japan...year 1999...

Diantha checked on the local magi in town.

She paid Rin a visit first. Girl is now twelve years old and likely finished her Fundamentals by now. Very healthy for a pre-teen year old, considering she left her a cookbook, but verbally only told Rin a cheat.

'How is your progress?' she would ask.

'Hah, its mostly self-study at this point.' said Rin resentfully. 'Father...apparently sucks as a teacher.' she fumed, shaking in her seat in anger. 'Kirei never knew the Fundamentals! So I learn what he knows from father, and Bajiquan. That's it. I self-study Fundamentals and our family Jewelcraft at home and I barely finished year 1 of it! At this rate I won't catch up!'

'I see...well, you cannot go far without the Fundamentals. Impossible to self-study without them.' Diantha shook her head. 'Do you have a spare gem I can use?'

'Well I do...what'll you do about it?'

'I will imbue the gem with a copy of my knowledge of the Fundamentals.' said Diantha as Rin's eyes popped, recognizing the trick. It was a Jewelcraft technique any MORON would know and can do! What Diantha has in mind, has her excited.

'Will you?!'

'It's needed.' Diantha snorted. Rin went to get a clear jewel from her storage, and Diantha did her thing, before Rin swallowed it.

Her mind was invaded by knowledge she desperately needed she felt really sick, before rushing to the windows and barfed.

'Now then, you can now focus on your family arts, other than what your teacher knows.' said Diantha. 'Remember, next year at spring, I will take you to London after Elementary Graduation.'

'Alright.' Rin nodded. Kirei hasn't much to teach her anyway. He teaches her all he knows and self-study the rest as he's no magus to begin with. He was a shoddy one her father made making her sigh.

Sakura probably got the better deal, she thought miserably.

When Diantha left because she had to check on a boy who survived the Fuyuki Fire and...forcefully-awakened Circuits to survive, Rin had knowledge of his existence as a magus living in her city. He was born in Fuyuki anyway so he was no invading magus but he had no memory after the fire as a result of smoke intoxication, not even his own name and rescued by the Magus Killer, one of her father's opponents in the Grail War and took him in out of sorry that his methods wound up orphaning the kid. He also retired from a horrible injury and settled in the city, content to live in peace but not teach the boy sorcery.

As if. That's impossible, Rin thought. Idiot told the kid about existence of Magic and given what Diantha pointed out in scenarios, anyone would want magic. Expect to be bugged till you cave in, so now she's checking on that.

xxx

Emiya Residence...

Its too easy for Diantha to bypass the field Kiritsugu set up without triggering its alarm. Its a simple set-up even a magus kid can pull off.

At the house, a lone boy cooked in the kitchen.

'Hello.' she startled the daylights out of him, too.

'Gah!' Shirou gasped out, startled by her and recognizing her. 'That's dangerous! I was frying rice!' he scolded her.

'Wahahahaha sorry sorry!' Diantha laughed, literally NOT sorry at all, to his chagrin. 'Anyway, did your father finally teach you?'

'He did before he got really sick...he can't even leave his room much nowadays.' and Shirou foolishly told her what he knew when no magus worth their salt would tell their secrets to outsiders so easily. A clear sign Kiritsugu did NOT truly teach the kid even if his circuits are well-trained and will reach full maturity in a couple days, thanks to the insurance she implanted years ago. With 27 Circuits but average 25 units each with normal composition, he has 675 units. Not bad. His awakened talent gives him the talent equivalent to a Magus Family that has a history of 70 years.

Not only that, it was...too sparse so Shirou was figuring things out on his own, leading Diantha to face-palm. Hard.

'Here.' she gave him the same jewel she asked of Rin. She had one beforehand, but she lied to her about not having any. She prepared this jewel solely for this boy.

'Er? I sell it?'

'No. You swallow it.' said Diantha to his shock. 'Once it serves its purpose, it will turn to ash in your stomach and you can simply pass it out by normal means.'

'But what's this gonna do?' Shirou asked her, taking the jewel, somewhat skeptical with her claims.

'It will teach you what you lack.' said Diantha. 'All magi as children, must study the basics, while training their Magic Circuits for at least five years BEFORE they can even think of casting a spell.' she told him. 'Casting spells with immature circuits will damage and cripple you over time.' that was to his horror. 'Your father didn't have much education himself so he got by what he can that he cannot ever be a teacher.' she sighed. 'As a result, by not knowing even the basics, he mistakenly thought you have little talent. Makes me wonder who his teacher is, they must suck.'

Shirou choked. His father wasn't good at teaching him because his teacher was just as bad?! No wonder he himself had little results! But at least he figured out how to train his Circuits, so using them leaves him numb now when before, they hurt a hella lot...

'So...will you teach me?' Shirou asked her hopefully. 'When I trained my circuits, they hurt a lot but later, it feels numb...'

'Yes. That is a sign that your body is finally getting used to the Circuits being a part of you and your body.' Diantha smiled. 'Train more and soon, you'll feel nothing when using it. A sign that your circuits are finally fully-matured.' she promised him. 'As for education, only the Fundamentals through that gemstone.' said Diantha. 'After that, you will come to understand why I cannot be your teacher.' Shirou pouted at that, and Diantha can only pat his head in comfort. 'It'll be difficult, but if you truly want to be a wonderful magic-user, you must endure.' she said. 'When I took a look at you back then, you are becoming an Incarnation and I removed what changes you over time for you to recover.' she took out a silk pouch and took out a certain thing. 'Hide this in your room when I leave.' Shirou took a beautiful golden sheath to his arms and nodded.

Shirou swallowed the jewel, and a flood of knowledge came to his mind. It was as if he was against a strong current of water as all that flooded his brain he felt quite the vertigo and nausea combined. 'Aaah!'

'A little unsettling, right?'

'Ugh...its like squeezing five years of school in, I'm gonna...' he ran for the sink and barfed. 'Ugh...'

'Your original Element was Earth but was distorting into Metal because that sheath was in your body.' said Diantha, casually ignoring the scene. 'That sheath is called Avalon, the scabbard of King Arthur's sword, Excalibur.'

'WHAT?!' Shirou squawked. 'Then how the hell did I have it in my body?!'

'Presumably to save your life from the fire and your father probably forgot to take it out.' Shirou face-faulted at her flippantly-spoken words. 'Avalon is a Conceptual Weapon that gives its user limited immortality through quickly healing from injuries before fatality sets in. However, as a Conceptual Weapon created by fairies, it also slowly overwrites your existence had it stayed in you for far too long. To the point your element changed to Metal.' Diantha explained to his disbelief. 'However, your Origin changed to Sword. Because a sheath is created to contain a sword. Hence the origin.'

'For now you're OK but had your element changed to Sword, you'll be forced to become a specialist magus as you'll be unable to use any element in sorcery.' Diantha continued grimly. It dawned on Shirou that his dream to be an awesome magus is nearly ended before he could truly even start and that horrified him.

'Then I was that close to being done for, from the start.' Shirou gulped as the reality set in, making him indeed, an inept magus as how is he going to train hard like that?

'Afraid so.' Diantha shrugged. 'Now, do you understand why I cannot be your teacher?'

'Yeah...dad would know so I have to do things on my own.' Shirou pouted. 'You clearly came here illegally, and I illegally learned from you and he's gonna get mad.'

'Mm.'

'But any hint? Pretty please?' Shirou pleaded. 'I don't know where to start!'

'Well, metal's origin is earth, so you have limited ability to use your old element back.' Diantha told him. 'And exposure to Avalon for a short while will also make you have some affinity with healing and barrier as well as bounded field magics. So don't be discouraged.' she reassured him kindly. 'Work with what's within your reach. Master it. Perfect it. And you'll be a wonderful magus one day. Fields of Science and Math, will be your best friend in this endeavor as Magi are also scientists. So create good magic and mystery, magic and technique that makes you, you. Be a unique Mystery.' Encouraged by her words, Shirou wore a feeble smile on his face.

'Thank you so much!'

'Work hard now~' and Diantha was gone. She was glad Kiritsugu was sick in bed that she could sneak in, otherwise this be impossible to reach out to the kid...sheesh.

But a short time later, the man died unknown to her.