The Steel Dragon – Chapter 1: Lessons on Magecraft
Kiritsugu Emiya was ninety-nine percent sure that his adopted son wasn't human. He wasn't sure what exactly the boy was, but he knew enough about the state of the Moonlit World in Japan to know that Shirou was likely one of the many young individuals born with some sort of inhuman blood running through their veins. That's not to say that the eight-year-old was some sort of Dead Apostle; even as damaged as his magic circuits were following the Fourth Holy Grail War, he could still spot one of the Dead from a mile away, but his young ward produced far too much prana to ever be considered human. Hell, even some of the more powerful magi and Apostles he had… experience (read: killed) paled in comparison to young Shirou's ability to produce magical energy.
Kiritsugu never wanted to teach his son magecraft or even introduce him to the Moonlit World. He had wanted to live out the rest of his short life in peace with his adopted son, maybe be blessed with some sort of godly stroke of luck and rescue his daughter from the clutches of the Einzberns, and then die peacefully in his sleep. And after he passed on, he would apologize profusely to Irisviel for not taking their family far away from Fuyuki and abandoning the Grail War when he had the chance. However, it seemed like he would have no choice but to get Shirou involved in the supernatural; the boy's sheer output of prana was so great that Kiritsugu wouldn't be surprised if some of the local insect life had already begun to mutate after only three days of Shirou moving into the Emiya Estate.
And the boy's week-long stay at the hospital… The former assassin had to pull out some of his old breathing techniques to prevent himself from hyperventilating whenever he thought of the number of 'miraculous' recoveries that doctors had observed in the time Shirou had spent in Emergency Care and Observation Wards. He was very lucky that the Clock Tower had very few eyes out his far east, and that the former Second Owner of Fuyuki had perished in the Grail War leaving an overwhelmed but still alive Kirei Kotomine standing in for the Tohsaka heir who was only a child.
So, on his son's fourth day of living at the Emiya house, after once again failing to cook something edible and being forced to order take-out, Kiritsugu sat his son down and explained to him about the Moonlit World and magi. He informed Shirou that the boy was one such magi and that he was particularly impressive in terms of producing magical energy but that had the side effect of being dangerous for the mundane people that loved around them.
Then the boy posed the Question:
"Dad," Shirou looked down at the Reinforced piece of paper that his father had used to demonstrate the existence of magecraft. "You have to teach me magic to keep our neighbors and Taiga-San safe; I get that but… If I learn magecraft, do you think I'll be able to save people like you saved me?"
"Shirou," Kiritsugu sighed. "I pray that you'll never need magecraft for anything because, in my opinion, magic rarely does anything but hurt others. That said, should the situation arise, with the right skills and mysteries, you could possibly save many lives."
"I would like to learn magi- …magecraft, Dad." Shirou met his father's gaze with steely determination. "I want to be able to help others, to save them, to protect those that can't protect themselves."
"Then let's head into the shed in the back then." A fraction of the Magus Killer's old, cold personality crept into the man's demeanor like an old poker face one couldn't forget. "I've set up a formula craft array that will allow us to identify your element. Once we know what magecraft you have a predisposition for then we can start you off on the proper theory for beginners."
The young redhead followed the retired mercenary into the toolshed that stood alone in the backyard of the Emiya Estate, his molten-gold orbs steely with resolve but also twinkling with wonder and curiosity at the sight of the magic circle drawn with chalk onto the shed's floor. At Kiritsugu's direction, Shirou moved carefully into the center of the large magic circle and lay down on the cold hard floor as the holder spellcaster began channeling just a tiny bit of his prana into the ritual. Once activated one of the functions of the circle kicked in and the magic circle latched onto Shirou's magical signature for fuel, siphoning small amounts of energy from the boy while also examining the composition of his prana. It took nearly an hour for the ritual to run its course and finally began to pulsate a bright white light before the result of Shirou's test displayed in a series of flashing colored lights that represented Shirou's elemental affinities.
First, it turned stark steel, grey that cause the former Magus Killer to think of a combat knife just before it was stained red by slitting a foe's throat. Then the light of the magic circle turned a fiery red that immediately caused Kiritsugu to start sweating, and finally, the glow subsided and the chalk that produced it began to emit a strangely colored smoke as it was dissolved by the potent magical energy contained within. The mist that rose from the circle was a strange mix of purple and tarnished gold, with greatly more tarnished gold than royal purple.
The elder Emiya was nowhere near a good enough magus to even begin to theorize what the colored smoke could have meant so he ultimately just shrugged the event off as a quirk of the boy's inhuman blood and prana reacting to a ritual designed for human use or it could be an indication of the boy's sorcery trait. Either way, he knew enough about magecraft that he was able to recognize the two elements that the ritual had identified.
"Well, Shirou, I suppose I shouldn't really be surprised when it comes to you at this point." Kiritsugu gave his son a half-hearted grin. "It seems that, like me, you possess an affinity for two elements: Fire and Metal. The mist that the other hand…"
"Does it mean anything to you father?"
"I'm sorry son, I just don't know. It could be a third element that I can't identify, or it could be a clue on either your origin or sorcery attribute." Kiritsugu mused as he kept reexamining the mist in his memory. "Unfortunately, I have no idea what the two colors could translate into nor do I possess the materials or skill for a ritual that would have a better chance at determining what it could be. Until we know more just being careful and vigilant when you cast mysteries."
"I'll be careful Father." Shirou nodded. "So, what do I need to learn first?"
"We'll begin with the basics of the basics; you need to learn how to consciously draw on and control your magical energy." Kiritsugu set up a pair of chairs for himself and his pupil and then Reinforced a sheet of paper to act as a demonstration. "First you have to be able to identify the magical energy within you. Every magus' interpretation of their prana is different and usually influenced by their elemental affinity. Some feel it as electricity in their veins or a second kind of liquid that flows through their veins with their blood; myself, I-"
"Found it." Shirou interrupted, his eyes shut as he concentrated.
"Really?" Kiritsugu's eyebrow rose in skepticism. "You are sure that you can feel your prana? Feel the energy produced by your soul; your Od mixing with the mana produced by the Gaia?"
"I mean it feels like there is this warm, intense flame in my chest that contracts and expands with the beating of my heart, so…"
"Cheeky," the retired Magus Killer grinned slightly. "But good job. Now that you know what your own prana feels like, you need to think up an imaginary trigger that will act as a type of self-hypnosis so you can better use your magical power. For example, mine is the slow-motion image of an explosion erupting. Visualizing that image in my mind's eye causes my prana to spread through my body quickly so that it is easier to use mysteries."
At this Shirou stared at his adopted father with a blank look of confusion. "So, you imagine something and that something makes it easier to cast spells? I… I don't think I understand. Why do we need to do that?"
"We'll get more into it when you start learning more of the theory behind magecraft, but I want you to imagine that the world; the entire Planet is a living, breathing person like you or me. Are you following me so far?"
"Like 'Mother Nature' but it isn't just words on a sign?"
"Yes, exactly." Kiritsugu chuckled softly at the boy's analogy. "Now the Earth is alive and everyone; humans and animals live on her and survive because of her. But while animals do as Mother Nature commands, we humans do not. We build cities where nature is ignored, and we destroy or harvest parts of the Earth if it is for our benefit. It's what allows us to live as we do now. Mother Earth is not happy with us because of this and so she does things to work against us; earthquakes and sinkholes collapse buildings, tsunamis damage entire cities, lightning storms cause power blackouts, and tornadoes destroy farmlands. Now here comes the important bit, you still following along?"
"Yes," Shirou answered simply with a look of deep contemplation. "Mother Nature lets us live on her, but human civilization became so advanced that we started making Earth angry. Now she trying to knock us down a peg or two."
"It's a bit more serious than that but you are essentially correct." The retired assassin ruffled the eight-year-old's rust-red hair. "We magi call the living Earth, Gaia and just like she works to limit human civilization, she also acts to limit human magecraft."
"Really?" Shirou looked at his father with wide eyes.
"Yep." Kiritsugu motioned down to the Reinforced piece of paper that had returned to normal. "If Gaia wasn't working against my magecraft then that paper I Reinforced would have kept its magical properties until something removed it. Gaia, however, can kind of sense when magecraft is performed by humans and she can use her very existence to suppress and cancel out magecraft to return things to their natural state. Gaia's influence is a bit like how gravity prevents us from floating into the sky, her will fights against a magi's will to change the world with magecraft so we must hypnotize ourselves so that we can overcome her will and perform thaumaturgy. That is what your mental trigger is for."
"Ok, I get it I think." Shirou mused gripping his chin. "So, yours is an explosion, is that common with magi?"
"More or less." Kiritsugu shrugged. "It is a common practice amongst magi to make their mental trigger something violent in nature because the fight or flight response also works to really get one's prana flowing. Nothing gets one ready to cast potentially dangerous mysteries than tricking yourself into believing that you are in danger."
Shirou didn't respond after that. Instead, he merely gazed out of the shed's open door, his mind running a mile-a-minute.
"Why don't you go for a walk around the neighborhood and think about it." Kiritsugu ruffled the boy's rust-red hair with a wane smile. "Maybe some fresh air will help you think. Just make sure you wear your jacket and scarf, it's cold out today."
"Huh, really?" Shirou frowned as he stepped out of the shed after his father. "I hadn't noticed but ok. Can I walk to the park?"
"As long as you are careful and come home by twilight." Kiritsugu watched with a thermos of tea as his son donned a green hoody and a white scarf before slipping on his blue sneakers and departing. Once the boy was gone, he let out a tired sigh as a pulled out his cell phone and made some calls to his old contacts, it was time to prepare for a trip.
The park near the Emiya estate wasn't much, just a few hundred feet of strangled trees and shrubbery with a small playground built in the corner closest to the road that led towards a nearby primary school. One that Kiritsugu had told Shirou that he would begin attending after he learned how to control his magic. For a reason Shirou couldn't, particularly place, he didn't really like the park. It wasn't like how the Fuyuki Central Park caused him to feel a kind of creeping dread climb up his spine; no, the park near his just felt like a pale shadow of what it could be to Shirou. It just seemed to lack the kind of energy that the forests around Fuyuki possessed.
More importantly than his thoughts on botany, however, was the sound of children laughing cruelly and the tell-tell noise of serious impacts and someone grunting in pain. With a surge of energy, Shirou bolted towards the noise as his nose caught the scent of blood, furthering both his worry and the accuracy of his dash towards the scene of whatever was going on.
The sight that the boy came upon instantly inflamed the youth's temper, sending his internal energy into a whirl of burning frenzy. Three boys, maybe a year or two older than Shirou, were bullying a girl younger than the magi-in-training; kicking dirt and throwing rocks at her as she huddled on the grassy ground with her arms around her head. Bellyfuls of cruel, malicious laughter echoed through the park from the three, especially from the center boy who was the largest of the bullying trio.
Shirou didn't hesitate when the leading brute hefted a stone larger than any of the ones before and made to toss it at the fallen girl. Stepping into the space between the three and the girl, Shirou Emiya's right hind snapped out and snatched the stone out of the air with a vicious snarl.
"What the heck do you think you are doing!?" Shirou's growling, harsh tone made the two lesser of the three flinch.
"None of your business ginger-brat!" The lead bully called back, a dark amusement appearing in his dark eyes. "You best get out of my way, or you'll join Rich Girl in our 'game'."
The mere thought of standing aside and letting this continue made Shirou's stomach turn in revulsion and heat flared from the source of the boy's magic like a flame being fanned and fed. The surge of heat spread from his chest around his body and seemed to settle in his muscles making him feel far stronger than he had since waking up in Fuyuki Hospital. Then, by reflex, the young redhead tightened his grip on the half-head-sized stone he had caught, and before the eyes of the bullies and the purple-haired girl, the stone fragmented into tiny chunks.
The bullies' eyes widened in alarm at the sight of the Emiya heir breaking stone with his sheer strength, the two minions even taking a step back in fear, looking more than ready to flee as fast as possible. The lead of the trio also looked alarmed at the sight but attempted to hide his apprehension with a cocky smirk.
"Why are you even getting involved brat? You know her or something?"
"Never met her before in my life," Shirou admitted without breaking eye contact with the larger boy. "I just can't stand by and let you do this to her. To anyone really."
"What the hell?" The tall boy cursed uncertainly. "Who do you think you are kid, some kind of hero? Grow up, heroes don't exist!"
"Shirou raised a single eyebrow and snorted patronizingly. "Oh? Then what do you call all the firefighters and police that acted to help others and stop the Fuyuki Fire? What about my father who braved the Flames just to help save others? The mayor and all the other adults seem to think that they are heroes, so do you think you know better than them? You must be dumber than you look if you think that."
With a snarl, the lead bully rushed forward and made to shove Shirou to the ground, but the magus-in-training had noticed his tensing muscles and was ready for him. Being careful of the girl who was sitting up on the grass behind him, Shirou stepped out of the boy's path and grabbed his wrist while tripping him with his right foot in a single motion. The result was the larger boy tumbling to his knees while Shirou painfully twisted his arm behind his back, pushing until the older boy let out a pained squeak.
"I don't think I need to tell you that I'll be very mad if I find you idiots doing this again." Shirou empathized his point by twisting the arm of the bully until he pressed his head into the ground in an attempt to lessen the pressure on his arm. Then the young redhead let the boy go and stepped away towards the purple-haired girl, his arm outstretched to help her to her feet.
The two minions didn't need any more convincing as they hurried to help their lead back to his feet and led him away from the park.
"Are you ok?" Shirou asked the purple-haired, blank-faced girl after he helped her to her feet. "If you are bleeding, my house is nearby, and we can find you some bandages there."
"I am fine, only slightly bruised." The girl answered in monotone as she dusted herself off. "I actually should be getting home soon; Grandfather will be waiting for me."
"If you are sure." Shirou gave the girl a gentle, friendly smile, something she had not seen in years. "Do you want me to walk you home?"
"I am ok but thank you." The girl answered quietly with a polite bow, her mind obviously elsewhere. She made to walk away, even managed to take a step or two but ultimately hesitated. "… Why did you help me?"
"It was the right thing to do." Shirou smiled at her again as he felt the core of his mystic energy flare again, the park around the two children warming a few degrees undenounced to them. "I won't let others act in such a horrible way as long as I am around to step in."
"I… see." The blank-faced girl turned and bowed one last time. "I am Matou Sakura, thank you again for your help."
"My name is Emiya Shirou," the rusty-haired boy bowed politely in return. "If those guys or any others bother you again, feel free to tell me and I'll deal with them."
The two children departed each other's company, deep thoughts occupying both of their minds.
Shirou Emiya walked back home with a satisfied grin on his lips and the mental trigger on his mind. In his mind's eye, the unknowing dragon pictured a cold forge suddenly roar to life and heated steel being hammered into shape, and as a response, he felt his magical energy heat and spread through his body in response. Then he shut off the flow, waited a moment for the chill weather to cool his body temperature, and then did it again. And again, and again Shirou practiced, and each time focused the prana to different parts of his body.
He felt the muscles in his legs and arms strengthen to the point he believed he could rip a stop sign out of the sidewalk and could jump onto the top of a three-story building. He experienced his senses sharpen to the point that he could spot a fox trotting on a brush-covered hill two miles away, he could hear the conversations of the people who lived in the houses he walked past, and he could smell the ramen stand a mile away and the fresh can of seasoning the chef was opening.
When the young magus entered his home, his wide smile immediately informed his adoptive father that Shirou had succeeded, and the older man couldn't help but chuckle in mirth at the boy's success.
"Well, it seems that your walk helped; I'm glad." The retired Magus Killer brought his son his helping of take-out Teriyaki Beef. "Now before you begin learning how to put your magic energy to use, you need to learn how to reign in your prana so that you don't put the mundane around us in danger and so that other magi cannot easily track you."
Shirou was just about to take the first bite of his meal when he heard this, and his chopsticks halted just in front of his open mouth as a look of guilt crossed his face.
"Oh, I'm sorry dad, I forgot about that. I, um… well I was kind of practicing charging my body with prana the entire time I was walking home. I completely forgot that I should be careful activating my magic. Sorry…"
"Shit." Kiritsugu sighed then immediately covered his mouth and looked at his son. The next day a swear jar stood resolute on the kitchen counter, compliments of Taiga Fujimura. Inside it, 600 yen sat.
For Sakura Matou, she could not stop thinking about the strange boy that she had just met and how much he reminded her of her dead uncle Kariya. She had noted that he was a magus, or at least that he possessed active magic circuits if his sudden magical flare-ups were any indication, but she didn't really find that fact important or interesting at all. Instead, her consciousness and subconsciousness warred within her. Her pessimistic side that knew better than to hope or act against her Grandfather's wishes thought Emiya Shirou was a naïve fool, just like her uncle, and he would probably die horribly just like him. Deep in her subconsciousness, however, a part of Sakura Matou deeply admired Emiya Shirou's foolish mentality and especially enjoyed the warmth of being around him.
The feuding factions of the girl's mind would not reconcile on the matter but ultimately came to a conclusion they both agreed on; it was unlikely that she would meet Emiya Shirou again so it would be best to put him out of her mind for now, after all, Grandfather was likely to put her in the Pit again for Training when she got home.
Fortunately for Sakura's tortured soul, she was wrong; she would meet Emiya Shirou again and Dragon Fire easily cleanses insects from existence.
Here we are with chapter 1. Boy am I glad that I write out these chapters in pen and paper first before typing them up because my laptop did not properly save this chapter the first time I typed it out. Not a lot happens in this one but you need to build up your characters somehow and this is not Dragon Ball.
On to some of the Reviews I received:
leedan632: The Warhammer aspects of this story originate from Warhammer Fantasy, specifically I'm most things off of Total War Warhammer 3. If you go back into the prologue you can find hints on who is responsible for the destruction of the World (Hint: it isn't Archeon the Everboring). The Emperor: I challenge you to Paradox-Billiards-Vostroyan-Roulette-Fourth-Dimensional-Hypercube-Chess-Strip Poker!
Pathreader: That is something I am excited to write about, especially if you consider what Wind of Magic Shirou Emiya would have the best compatibility with.
animesguardianangel: If I decided to write this story set in the Warhammer Fantasy world, Shirou would absolutely have been a shugengan lord but because the story I want to write requires that the Fate World be the main setting I needed to come up with the answer to a very different question. That is to say why would Zhao care to save the life of just another of his dragon-blooded children? The answer is that he wouldn't.
Even if he is the nicest of his family to the mortals of Cathey, the fact remains that he still regularly sends his dragon-blooded children off to fight, and perhaps die, in his wars. No, the only way Zhao would work tirelessly to save the life of one of his children was if they were completely different than all of his other children, hence Cathayan Dragon Shirou.
That being said... thanks to your comment I just had the idea of writing some omake with the main focus being the alternative reality where the Warhammer World hasn't fallen and we follow shugengan Shirou Emiya. Ya... oh this will be fun, thank you.