Aftermath (1)

The Einzbern family manor was no average estate, not from a designer's perspective nor an invader's.

Two square kilometers in size, comprising of several different buildings and residences with a few small botanical gardens carefully protected from the near perpetual chill of the frostbitten winds, the ancestral lands of the famed Homunculus creators was no simple objective for any prospective attackers to undermine.

Extensive Bounded Fields that could stymie a small army, roving pairs of combat Homunculi that were comparable to the strongest of Magi or Enforcers in sheer battle strength-if not ingenuity-while the Einzbern Magi themselves were often present in no less than a dozen members strong.

Today, none of that had mattered. The Bounded Fields had been broken in under five minutes by what seemed to be a bewildering variety of Mystic Codes and Runecraft, the combat Homunculi swatted aside like they weren't even there while the rest of the family had been too cowed by the blitz to make even a half-hearted stand.

And, as Jubstacheit von Einzbern stared down a small girl with an unnerving smile-midnight knives held to his throat-the ancient golem couldn't help but feel ruefully amused at this turn of events.

Yet again, Emiya's spawn had returned to haunt the Einzbern family.

A collection of footsteps echoed outside his quarters, stopping directly in front of the heavy oak door-

-and a deafening BANG of splintering wood heralded said door's destruction, artfully crafted designs hanging askew as the boot-clad foot that had blasted it aside retracted from view, admitting a solitary figure to stroll inside with a pleasant smile tilting her lips, clad in a depressingly plain overcoat, jeans and boots.

"Old Man Acht."

"Illyasviel von Einzbern. Your clothing is inappropriate given your station."

The albino's smile turned predatory.

"I'll take that statement as the suggestion that it is. Additionally, it's Illyasviel Emiya now."

A noncommittal grunt left the ancient man's throat, tone disinterested as he said, "So you decided to take after the Magus Killer after all, did you?"

"You mean after you lied to me about Papa for almost a decade? Don't sound so disappointed, when you have a brother like mine all sorts of surprising things can happen."

The Einzbern head turned his attention to the entry way as two additional figures walked through, each of them wildly different in appearance and temperament.

The first was a familiar face from more than ten years ago, that of the King of Knights herself, expression set into one of resolute confidence as she offered the Magus a cursory nod.

The second was an individual that, however briefly, caused the golem to lose his cool, finger twitching briefly in a gesture of agitation.

It was Kiritsugu Emiya's adopted child. The eye and hair color alongside skin tone shift wasn't enough to fool the ancient Magus...it was without a doubt Shirou Emiya in the company of the Einzbern family jewel.

The silent obedience the young man displayed as he took up position next to Illya was explanation enough for his loyalties, never mind the way the rest of the Heroic Spirits took up guard duty around the room with calm efficiency.

"I see rumors of the Grail War's end were exaggerated, if two Servants still walk this realm."

"Oh it ended, Onii-chan and I saw to that. But Saber, Assassin and Lancer are still very much here to stay. And don't bother checking up on the Grail system...it's gone."

A slight furrowing of his brow was the only visible confusion the older Homunculus displayed, replying, "Then our family dream has come to an end, thanks to your actions...is what I would normally say, yet here you are, with Servants still manifested on this plane."

"Quite right. And that's because, for all intents and purposes...I am the new Archmage of the Einzbern family, Old Man Acht."

Yet another minuscule twitch, the golem's eyes narrowing dangerously as he evenly stated, "A bold claim to make, little girl."

"One that's true, Old Man."

With a knowing smirk the albino channeled mana through her sprawling magic circuits, the room lighting up with ambient energy as the Einzbern head's jaw dropped, the highway of mystical energy a familiar sight to any Homunculus creator worth their claim to the name.

"...How did you adopt the magic circuits of the Archmage herself? They were intrinsically tied to the leylines of Fuyuki."

"Simple. She gave them to me."

"You spoke with Justeaze Lizrich von Einzbern?"

A smug smirk crossed Illya's lips, tone blatantly pleased as she said, "Oh, we did more than speak...she imparted to me the ability to pursue the Third Magic. While the Greater Grail system could achieve a limited facsimile of the process it was ultimately static, only able to be used by others and unable to progress on its own. As for me? I can think, I can experiment."

A noticeably sour expression crossed the young woman's features.

"You should be proud, I guess. It was only because of your work on my body-and a fair number of other factors-that the Archmage's circuits were able to properly transfer. Congratulations, Grandfather. Your desire to one day bring the Third Magic back to the family was a success...even if it wasn't as a result of winning the war."

Jubstacheit sank back into his chair, mind awhirl with the import of what the doll before him had accomplished. Of what he had designed her to accomplish, through more than a decade of hard work and constant experimentation.

A satisfied, content smile spread across his face.

"I see the years of our accumulated hopes have not gone to waste. You truly are the accumulation of all that we had hoped to achieve since the days of the lost Third."

"Indeed. And if you wish to continue exulting in that pride of yours you had best listen to my next demands very carefully."

Appearing more amused than he did outraged the golem motioned for Illya to continue, seemingly ignorant of the knives that bit into his skin.

"You will immediately abdicate the position of family head and give it to me. Furthermore, you will provide instruction and tutelage so that I may properly lead the Einzberns as my advisor and mentor. In my absence you are to lead the family as I would without complaint."

The albino's lips curled in a grumpy display.

"I will be spending a great deal of my time with Onii-chan under the wing of the Kaleidoscope and Blue, aiming to improve my abilities with the Third Magic."

Obviously finished with her spiel the current Einzbern head calmly sat in his chair, observing the gathered troupe before him with an unreadable expression.

...Almost a minute passed before he grinned, gesturing widely with his arms.

"Very well, the position is yours...Archmage."

Jack removed her knives from the man's throat before taking a step back, Jubstacheit standing upright before striding to stand before Illya, his greater height towering over the girl as they locked gazes.

"Let me make one thing clear, Grandfather...I really, really want to kill you."

"Do you now?"

Not wavering in the front of the older male's idle amusement the albino continued with, "You made a decade of my life a living Hell, lied to me about Papa, Mama and Onii-chan and expected me to die earning you a victory from an artifact that would have likely brought untold destruction to the world. The only reason I'm not killing you is because you're resourceful and intelligent, properties that he family would be better off with rather than without."

Ruby eyes began to glow with malicious intent.

"So if you stay smart then you'll continue to make yourself a useful asset rather than a hindrance...or maybe you won't. Maybe you'll make my day and create a small enough justification so I can have Onii-chan wipe you from the face of the Earth. Your choice."

Still wearing his unconcerned smile of satisfaction Jubstacheit politely nodded, replying, "Your warning is appreciated, Archmage. I will inform the rest of the family of the change in leadership...and perhaps offer a choice few chastisements for allowing intruders in so easily without resistance."

Tone noticeably more disgruntled at the mention of the other Einzbern household members Jubstacheit swept out of the room, leaving the trio alone as Illya stewed in her own thoughts.

"Assassin? Follow him and make sure he only tells everybody else of what happened. If he says anything else, inform me."

"Okay, we can do that~!"

Skipping out of the room with a playful grin Jack quickly disappeared from view, the Homunculus turning her attention on Saber.

"Saber, make sure Lancer and Sella are alright, I don't want there to be any chance of someone meddling with the backup Homunculus bodies."

"Understood, Lady Illyasviel."

Nodding a brief farewell the Servant began making her way to where the two other members of their group had taken up position, guarding the dozens of replacement combat and 'domestic' Homunculi models.

Those two tasks taken care of Illya marched her way to where the previous head had taken up residence, gently lowering herself into the ornate chair...and feeling a rush of energy course through her system as the Einzbern defense network identified her circuits as those belonging to Justeaze herself, coding her into the array of Bounded Fields, roving bands of combat patrols and other defenses she hadn't been made aware of that would need to be investigated later.

"In Oto-san's experience, Illya, Magi can't be trusted any further than they can be seen."

Sighing in exasperation Illya nodded at Shirou's blunt words, replying, "I believe it. That old bastard is likely going to 'publicly' support me at every turn possible while keeping the lion's share of real power to himself. The Third Magician doesn't need all of the power, now does she?"

Grumbling in annoyance at all the political garbage she was going to have to deal with in the future-as well as her practice with the aforementioned Third Magic-the Homunculus let her head fall onto the table with a dull thump of bone on wood.

"I could just kill him now. You don't particularly care about the Einzbern family, correct? It might make things easier if we just eliminate him now, the losses inconsequential."

Illya smiled at her Shirou's blunt offer, briefly entertaining it...before releasing a huff of disappointment.

"No, Onii-chan...for now we'll let him live and try to figure just what kind of favors and capital he has locked away. Then we can kill him."

"Very well, Illya."

Throwing herself upright the albino stated, "Well, we might as well get this other deal over with...come over here, Shirou."

Jumping out of the chair Illya motioned for him to sit down in it, Shirou following her gesture without complaint-

-before tensing slightly as the Homunculus threw herself onto his lap, squirming slightly to make herself more comfortable with a giggle.

"Shirou, can you hold me~?"

Tilting her head backwards and staring up at her lover with an innocent blink of ruby eyes Illya inwardly cackled as Shirou somewhat hesitantly put his arms around her waist before holding tight.

"Just a few more hours of hard work and then it'll just be me and him, alone in my old bedroom...shoot, I have to tell Sella to make sure it's clean! Eh heh heh~..."

"Illya?"

Snapping out of her raunchy daydream the Homunculus quickly pulled an enchanted mirror from her pocket, setting it on the table before activating the artifact with a pulse of prana.

A few seconds of inactivity passed-

-and with a brief swirl of muted color none other than Medea appeared within, face neutral as she gazed out at the duo.

"You're late."

"We were busy. Besides, you're still here, right? So I must have done something right."

A sharp click of the Witch of Betrayal's tongue was her only reply, Illya smirking at the ex-Servant's response.

"That's what I thought. You're welcome, by the way."

"I have no debt, without me you would have expired during the war, Magician."

"I bet you don't talk to your boyfriend like that. How does he like having a real girlfriend now, one that's not make believe?"

A faint dusting of pink colored the woman's cheeks, words stammered as she protested, "T-that's none of your business, Homunculus! There have been no complications with this form thus far, I see no sign of that changing and I believe we should end our relationship here, agreed?"

"Agreed. Don't draw attention to yourselves and we can keep it that way."

"Don't tell me what to do."

"And be sure to wear a condom, Medea. Don't want to have a bunch of little Elf babies running around while you're still so young, do you?"

The Caster's face lit up like a scarlet lamp, fist descending on the mirror she was using with a squeak of embarrassment that ended their connection, hopefully forever.

"It sounds like you did good work, Illya."

"Apparently. I wasn't sure if that would work, to be completely honest..."

After they had spoken to the Kaleidoscope and Burial Agency representatives the group had gone to track down Caster and Kuzuki in order to fulfill their end of the bargain.

...Except Illya, much like with Shirou, didn't really have a clue on how to go about giving Caster what she wanted.

Thus, she had improvised.

While remaking-or retrieving, she still wasn't sure whichshe was doing-a Heroic Spirit's soul was beyond her ability the Homunculus had remembered the makeup of Shirou's soul, of what a normal Human one was supposed to resemble.

Thus she had only created the shell that was recorded in Caster's soul, crafting skin, muscle, bone and organs around Caster's current existence and gifting her with a body that would protect her soul and mind from being returned to the Throne of Heroes.

A side effect had been that, in only recreating the body and not the legend or mystic weight that accompanied it, she had effectively neutered Caster's power, the woman barely able to channel the strength a run-of-the-mill Magus would have been able to call upon.

A bit of a step down from the woman who had once been heralded as one of the most brilliant practitioners of their art to walk the Earth.

But, as their conversation had proved, it was a stable existence, one that only needed a very small influx of energy to anchor the soul to the body. Energy that Caster could easily provide to herself with the occasional dip into wellsprings of mana or the 'assistance' or her lover's dick.

It was a start, allowing a Heroic Spirit to remain in the world...even if they were heavily lessened during the process.

"Are you alright, Illya?"

Snapping out of her thoughts the albino cheerfully planted a kiss on her Shirou's neck, reassuring him as she began rifling through the drawers of her new desk, seeing if there was anything interesting located within.

"I'm fine, Onii-chan. Besides, you and I can finally spend some alone time together later this night~! I really want to continue from where we left off during the Grail War..."

While he didn't vocally reply the way his arms briefly tightened around her waist was answer enough, Illya returning to work with gusto in order to give herself as much free time as possible later that day.

She knew exactly how she was going to spend it~!


All hail Lord Illya, leader of Chateu Einzbern...wait, that's French.

Anyway forgot to mention this last chapter but thanks be to those who pointed out I'd accidentally written Shirou as 27th Ancestor when he was supposed to be 26th. Not sure how I mixed that up but it should be fixed now.