Hello readers!
I know that this chapter is lacking in terms of length but I wanted to get your opinions about it. Do you think I should use some of the material in this chapter to write an entire arc or just go with it?
ShirouKuroEmiya
Chapter One "The Future"
"I got lucky this time. Hurrah for getting such a wonderful, caring foster father." I said happily as I recalled the past few days after Kiritsugu had managed to get me out of the hospital and legally adopted me.
I walked into a large room that had been designated as my personal library. For now, the large room was filled with empty shelves that if filled would easily rival most small town public libraries.
I have managed to fill one shelf so far and that was nearly a hundred thick textbooks regarding the basics of different schools and styles of magic from around the world. The task of procuring so many books from all around the world in a matter of days was not an easy feat if my own experience as Tanya had been anything to go by. It spoke about the wealth and connections that my new father possessed.
"Right, the correct term isn't magic in this world. It's Magecraft. After all, Magic, or more correctly True Magic, is something that is impossible for mages of my second life . Things like reviving the dead, time travel, travelling to parallel worlds can only be done by True Magicians." I corrected myself as I recalled what I had learned so far about True Magic.
Just thinking about True Magicians made me furious and I quickly grabbed a notebook from a shelf and opened it. Inside were a list of people that I suspected as Being X, who had screwed me over countless times to the point I don't think it is possible for anyone to make me hate them as much as Being X.
The Biblical God was the first person I had removed from my list of potential suspects. If my experience of living three lives had told me anything then despite many things being different in each world there was one thing that had never changed. The portrayal of the Biblical God. It never matched the personality and behavior of Being X.
In fact, I have gone over this world's documented records of atheists and believers of non-Biblical religions of their interaction with the Biblical God. These records had further been thoroughly investigated by the greatest experts of the Mage's Association and Holy Church to verify that God existed. After reading numerous reports, it was clear to me that Being X could not be the Biblical God that "it" claimed to be.
That was how thoroughly convinced I was, at least until I found evidence that proved that notion wrong that Being X could be the Biblical God.
I looked at the name, Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg, I had crossed out from list of my notebook with mixed feelings. Zelretch had once been a top contender on my list of potential suspects that could be Being X. This had happened when I had heard first about Zelretch and his abilities with the Second True Magic, Kaleidoscope. Zelretch might be able to travel to parallel worlds, have limited ability to manipulate time and peering into other timelines, but his personality was nothing like Being X. After all, what sort of man would sacrifice much of his lifespan and power to prevent the FUCKING Moon from wiping out human life. Being X was the very last person in my mind that would make that kind of sacrifice.
When I thought about the possible entities that could be Being X, I glanced at the textbooks on the Age of Gods and Divine Spirits.
"This Earth might be the same one from my first life as a salaryman." I mused as I recalled how this Earth of my current life went to hide the existence of the supernatural.
"What do you mean by that?" A voice spoke up.
I quickly reacted and nearly fired a magic spell at Kiritsugu, who had appeared seemingly out of nowhere. My opinions about my new adopted father quickly changed. I started to fear him instinctively as I recalled my experience with my greatest foes. I, as Tanya von Degurechaff in my second life, had been unstoppable and nearly unkillable on the battlefield. Outside the battlefield, I was just as fallible as any other human against assassins, who could attack any time and any place.
"I didn't say anything." I replied, hoping that Kiritsugu would be fooled while trying to get rid of the thought that Kiritsugu was someone I just feared. If Kiritsugu had really wanted me dead he wouldn't have saved me. It was likely a habit of his profession that he moved around so quietly, one that he hadn't gotten rid off.
"I will not ask about this matter if you don't want to share it. Just know this, I don't mind if my adoptive son can remember his past life. It will not be the first time I met someone that recalled their previous life or multiple previous lives."
Those words greatly impacted me. For a moment, I had feared that Kiritsugu might shun me or treated me like a monster. It seemed my fears had been overblown, and I was quite surprised by the fact that my new father had met people like me, who could remember their past lives.
"I might talk about my past lives another day after we get to know each other more." I spoke up.
"Tell me your story when you feel comfortable," said Kiritsugu with a smile. "You have been a very diligent student." He remarked while glancing over at the mountain of textbooks that I had written in or filled with memos. "If you want, I can hire some good tutors to teach you magecraft."
"I am okay for now. I want to learn more from the textbooks before looking for any tutors." I replied.
"If that is what you want to do then fine with me." Kiritsugu smiled but he started to frown when he saw something.
I looked over at where my foster father was staring at. My face went red when I discovered he was looking at several hidden guns, explosives and other military equipment that I had found while exploring my new home.
The first thing that came to mind was foreign ignorance and pretending to be a child. That idea was quickly thrown out the window when I couldn't figure out how to explain that a seven-year-old boy could even find the well-hidden weapons in the first place. I decided the truth was the best course of action while also adding a bit about my past life.
"I was curious what you were hiding, the equipment and was in the process of checking them." I explained.
"Thank you for sharing a bit of your past with me and telling the truth." Kiritsugu smiled gratefully and he looked at a pile of intact, partially disassembled and components of guns, explosives and military gear. "You don't seem too familiar with my gear but clearly an expert with some high degree of knowledge regarding military equipment. Are you used to older and more outdated military equipment or things that may exist in the future?"
Future? Where did that come from? I wondered but I moved on to answer my foster father. Since Kiritsugu had been so accepting of my past life and hadn't asked too much about it, I felt comfortable speaking about the matter. "I am familiar with very old and outdated military equipment. My previous life was on a world very remarkably similar to Earth but there were slight differences. I fought in what was this world's equivalent of World War I and II."
My new father gave me a weird look. Where did that come from? I don't think I mentioned anything weird, especially with Zelretch around. It seemed like things and knowledge coming from parallel world's would be accepted in this life of mine's supernatural world.
As if reading my mind, Kiritsugu started to explain. "Those that remember their past lives from parallel worlds or different timelines from this Earth are extremely rare. Almost a once a century occurrence, so I was just shocked by what you told me."
"Oh." I mused. Don't talk about my past life too much then. I mentally noted. "So, what are your plans for the future since you discovered my… past life."
"It is up to you."
"Here are my plans for the future." I said as I brought out my handbook of my future plans and passed it over to Kiritsugu. "Tell me what you think or what I should modify…"
- O -
Three Years Later,
"Kirei!" Rin shouted as she slammed the door leading into the church. "I want more books on this topic," she pointed at a book titled, Magecraft of the Future by Tanya von Degurechaff. "If you're not going to get more books on Tanyan Magecraft then at least get me a Computation Orb and equipment listed inside this book."
"Rin, this isn't how you treat your Guardian." Kirei replied in a fatherly tone, expected of his position as Catholic Priest that was held as a father by the believers that attended his services.
"Former Guardian!" Rin shouted and nearly spat in disgust. "If it wasn't for Shirou-kun for revealing your true nature then so much of wealth and influence that was placed under your care by my father wouldn't have been lost! It was Shirou-kun, who prevented even more of my inheritance 'disappearing' under your terrible management."
"I would advise that you stay away from Shirou Emiya." Kirei frowned in displeasure. "He has been a terrible influence on you. Your father wouldn't have wanted to see his daughter to see what you are today and likely become if you continue associating yourself with that boy."
"Oh, sure! Stay away from my friend, who has done more to help me than you have ever done!" Rin growled. "You are just afraid of Shirou-kun's adoptive father, Kiritsugu Emiya. The winner of the Fourth Holy Grail War. Don't think I am still not suspicious of you! No matter how much you slander the Emiyas, they have been nothing but kind and helpful to me. No one would believe a hypocrite as you, Kirei. You are supposed to be dead with your heart destroyed when Kiritsugu-san shot you, and there is some evidence that you were likely responsible for my father's death!"
Kirei Kotomine closed his eyes and sighed. He wasn't unusually the type to curse but at this very moment he really wished too. Everything had changed when Rin meant Shirou Emiya, formerly Shirou Muramasa according to legal records, two years ago at an annual memorial to commemorate those that had lost their lives due to the Fuyuki City Fire. A supernatural fire caused by the destruction of the Holy Grail during the Forth Fuyuki Holy Grail War.
That coincidental meeting between Shirou Emiya and Rin Tohsaka had forever altered the relationship Kirei had with Rin. It had led to a series of events that forever tarnished Rin's perception of him and permanently strained their relationship that had become enemies. She only came to him now when there was something that she required and needed the permission of her legal guardian to get.
When Kirei recalled the legal proceeding that Rin had brought against him to remove his position as her legal guardian, it had only been the wealth and influence that he had access to with the Holy Church and that he had inherited from his father, Risei Kotomine, that he had barely stopped Rin. That court case had only further soured his relationship with Rin and had Kiritsugu Emiya placed as a third-party supervisor to oversee that he was doing his job properly as Rin's guardian.
Kirei quickly snapped out his musing and said, "Are you sure you wish to study Tanyan Magecraft? Your father wouldn't approve of such a thing and pursuing studies in this controversial new school of magecraft might damage your reputation in the Clocktower, something that might hamper your future opportunities."
"Tanyan Magecraft has become all the rage with my generation and younger mages. Only the older mages stuck in their old ways and don't want to see their positions challenged are worried about Tanyan Magecraft. I don't want to be left behind." Rin replied then she looked at Kirei. "You are my legal guardian, according to the law, but I think you are my guardian. So, stop trying to be my guardian when I don't want it." Rin snorted. "Will you get what I want or do I need to go to the Emiyas?"
The former Executor sighed. "I get what you requested."
"Thanks!" Rin shouted and she slammed the door behind her.
"Why do you ever bother keeping up this charade?" Gilgamesh asked as he stepped out of the shadows that he had been hiding in. "The girl doesn't treat you like a guardian and she clearly doesn't deserve your care."
"I made a promise to Tokiomi to look after his daughter if anything were to happen to him. So, I intend to live up to that vow, even if his daughter doesn't want me to." Kirei replied.
"That is a very amusing response for the man that killed Tokiomi and drove Aoi insane, leaving Rin without parents." Gilgamesh chuckled. "So, what are you going to do about Darnic Prestone Yggdmillennia and his clan, the Yggdmillennia? Are you going to allow them to investigate the Holy Grail system as they requested?"
"Darnic is offering a great deal of resources for my approval, and it seems a great way to get back at Rin for the troubles she has been causing me lately."
"The corruption of the Holy Grail system will be revealed though."
"The Mage's Association already knows after Rin met Kiritsugu and informed them. Only the bureaucracy and racist policies are just delaying the inevitable investigation that will ascertain if the Holy Grail has been corrupted as Rin and Kiritsugu claims." Kirei replied. "Besides, I think you will enjoy the sight of seeing more Holy Grail Wars propping up around the world if Darnic has its ways. You have been complaining how bored you are as of late."
"Indeed," Gilgamesh nodded his head. "Your actions will lead to some of the finest entertainment there can be. I hope Darnic is truly able to replicate the Holy Grail so I can see more Servants fight it out!"
Was this good, bad or meh? Please tell me what you think. I accept all criticism as long as it is no flaming.