Aftermath (2)
"Ok, pupils of mine, here's a question to start things off with. What, exactly, is a True Magic?"
Illya, Shirou and Rin exchanged perplexed looks.
"Ok, I'll bite. Why am I here? I'm not a True Magician and neither is Emiya over here. He's a Vampire. Shouldn't you be talking to the Einzbern and only the Einzbern?"
While Illya's eye twitched at the usage of her old family name rather than her current one she held her tongue, curious about the Vampire's reasoning as well.
"Well that's an easy answer, baby Tohsaka."
"...What did you just call me-"
"You see, young Shirou over here has more or less devoted his existence to the protection of miss Illyasviel. If he were to have a more comprehensive understanding of just what she were capable of he can do said job all the better. Also his additional tutors haven't arrived yet, so I'm just including him for the time being."
The young woman looked ready to blow a gasket, that someone would reveal the inner workings of a True Magic just because they were ahead of schedule.
"And as for you, baby Tohsaka? Well I'm not going to live forever and the Second Magic would likely die with me, thus there needs to be an inheritor. And I would much rather it be one of my students rather than some stranger with less than decent morals."
Rin-along with Illya-blinked at the Apostle's words, the eastern woman blandly stating, "You're a Vampire. If you die before I do you're doing it wrong."
"Oh, you never know. I am rather old, my poor elderly heart might just one day give out, leaving me dead where I stand. Preferably standing, lying collapsed in a heap at the bottom of some stairs would be a tad depressing and ignoble. Not to mention Barthomeloi might actually crack a smile at the sight and I shudder to imagine one of my last acts causing that woman to actually feel joy."
The trio continued to blandly stare, Rin eventually stating, "But, but...you're talking about teaching me a True Magic. Like, like that's something I can just do."
Shrugging with a blatant lack of concern the Kaleidoscope simply responded, "Maybe you can, maybe you can't. If you can't then what does it matter if you know the method behind it? If you can then you'll make an excellent disciple in something beyond jewel magecraft."
The raven-haired Magus could only stand with her jaw agape.
Illya settled for a sigh, glancing around the unused classroom they were occupying in some vacant corner of the Clocktower. She had been expecting something more...unique to begin their exploration of True Magics but it seemed that space was at a premium even for Magicians. At least the Apostle had been kind enough to provide them with easy transportation thanks to his usage of the Second Magic, the Homunculus would have thrown a fit if they had to constantly commute between the Clocktower and Einzbern estate...
"Now, with that properly settled, we can-"
[Yes! Finally! Proper individuals who can make use of my most glorious talents!]
The Wizard Marshall slapped a palm over his face as the trio stared with bewilderment at a floating stick, the toy-looking wand eagerly swooping over Rin and Illya's heads while speaking in a high-pitched and ecstatic tone of voice.
[Oh, where are my manners? Ahem! You two may call me Magical Ruby, I'm a Kaleidostick Mystic Code created by this grumpy asshole who insists on not making proper use of my powers! But, at last, salvation has arrived!]
"...What the Hell is this thing?"
Illya's wary question was answered with a sigh from Zelretch, tone gruff as he explained, "The result of a drunken endeavor to grant a form of sentience to my jewels. Or, if you prefer to use the more scientifically accurate descriptor...a mistake."
[How could you call your greatest creation a mistake, geezer?! Here ye, hear ye! I, Magical Ruby, can bestow any suitably talented individual the ability to turn into a Magical Girl!]
"But we're already magical, right?"
The floating stick jerked midflight, quickly recovering as if Illya's statement hadn't been posed as it announced, [I can gift you power greater than you've ever imagined if only you'll sign a contract with me-]
WHAM!
All gathered blinked in confusion at the sight of the self-proclaimed Kaleidostick currently slammed into the ground, form weakly writhing beneath the weight of the warhammer Shirou was wielding, expression wary as he glared down at the Mystic Code.
"Sorry, it began speaking of magical contracts and I reacted on instinct. Oto-san always warned me to be wary of those."
[F-freakin siscon…]
Rin looked at the battered tool with an expression of clear bewilderment as she asked, "What was that thing going on about with magical girls?"
"You're Japanese, shouldn't you know?"
"What do you mean, 'I should know'?! Aren't you the one who made these things?!"
"I can't be held responsible for every little accident that just so happens to occur during the process of exploration and discovery. Hey, kid. I'll forgive you for assaulting one of my things if you promise to give me advance warning the next time you smash it with a hammer. I want to get a video recording."
[S-such a cruel fate, to have a bastard of a geezer wish for my destruction…]
Lifting up the considerably sized hammer as if it was a hollow stick Shirou took a step backwards, Zelretch lazily picking up the Mystic Code before casually tucking its cracked and battered form inside his overcoat.
"Now, back to what I was saying. The True Magics aren't really Magecraft, not in the strictest sense of the word. Yes, they're activated and guided by magic circuits and prana...except the amount needed to perform even the simplest of magecrafts could power a typical usage of True Magic dozens of times over. Observe."
As if to prove his point a multitude of swirling portals snapped to life at his flanks, holding steady in a dizzying display of color and compressed imagery that he dismissed a few seconds later.
"Now, did any of you detect any hints of residual prana or ambient heat from my circuits?"
Rin scowled, sniping, "What, were we supposed to be looking for that?"
"Yes, but I don't particularly feel like duplicating the feat so you'll just have to take my word for it. Although I imagine Miss Illyasviel can confirm what I've been telling you, oh pupil of mine. Tell me, when you were employing your use of the Third, did your circuits feel particularly stressed or overheated?"
Thinking back to the night she had woven together her Shirou's Human and Apostle sides together-giggling at the memory of what had occurred afterwards-the albino responded, "No. My head and body ached but I think that might have just been the strain of employing a sense I'd never used before for the first time. And the body pain was probably because I was tensed for such a long time."
Shirou nodded, adding, "She was locked in a rigid posture for most of the duration of her task."
Zelretch gestured with his hand, explaining, "And there you have it. Employing and subsequently mastering a True Magic is not a matter of power, it is one of the mind. To make use of a Magic not natural to the accepted order, to spit in the face of what the world deems possible and find another way regardless."
His cane hit the ground with a sharp clank, visage stern as he focused on Illya.
"Tell me...when you first employed the Third, did you see it? The Gate. The Root. The Red Shadow."
Frowning to herself the Homunculus shook her head, replying, "No, I didn't. Is that a prerequisite to fully mastering a True Magic?"
The Kaleidoscope shrugged, explaining, "Who can say? It's not as if there's a glut of True Magicians to compare notes with...but the Blue and myself did indeed see those three things when we finally walked those last few steps to attaining both the Second and Fifth respectively."
The Homunculus frowned, asking, "When you say 'Gate' and 'Red Shadow'...what are those? The Root I understand but I've never heard of those other two terms."
Sitting himself in a nearby chair the Wizard Marshall said, "A 'Gate' is just a fanciful term for the means a True Magician reaches or comes into view of the Root. It can appear as a variety of different things but passing through this 'Gate' is a final step, of sorts. The point of no return."
The Apostle's expression turned a great deal more serious.
"As for the 'Red Shadow'? Well there's a number of different theories and ideas on just what, exactly, it is. Some have posited that it's a manifestation of the Counter Force, a last line of defense against those that would reach the Akashic Records and bring about the demise of all recorded universes. As for me? Well...I feel fairly certain in my assumption that it's a test of sorts. If that thing had truly desired either myself or the Blue dead...it could have performed the deed in the blink of an eye. The Counter Force-the real one, not the Human manifestation we call Gaia or Alaya-when applied properly, is a foe even an Ultimate One would find itself in an uphill battle against."
A smirk appeared on the Apostle's lips.
"I believe the Red Shadow is a test. An arbiter that decides the worthiness of those that achieve the dream of almost all Magi over the course of history. If they are found wanting...well, I'll leave that to your imagination."
Crimson eyes locked onto Illya's equally ruby orbs, the Wizard Marshall's tone grave.
"If you wish to take the final steps towards true mastery of the Third...you'll have to confront the Red Shadow and prove that you can be trusted with a True Magic that affords us a path to the center of all things."
The Homunculus snorted, wryly remarking, "No pressure."
"Indeed. No pressure whatsoever."
While Shirou looked less than pleased at the prospect of a threat to Illya that he likely wouldn't be able to do anything about he nonetheless held his peace, Rin just shaking her head before wryly remarking, "I never thought I'd be saying something like this...but a True Magic sounds like more trouble than it's worth."
"You say that, but then you remember that I can quite literally watch an infinite number of universes with lots of attractive ladies taking showers, none of them any wiser to my presence."
Rin and Illya stared.
"...You're serious."
"Who knows? You'll just have to hope that I one day kick the bucket so you can master the Kaleidoscope and watch Mr. Emiya over there scrub himself squeaky clean a million different ways."
Illya glowered at the other Magus as she gained a dusting of pink across her cheeks, stammering, "D-don't be absurd, why would I like this blockhead who basically stood aside and let me be humiliated in front of almost a dozen people?!"
For some reason Zelretch found that statement highly amusing.
Illya was just mentally fuming at the fact she would have to add another girl to the, 'do not leave alone with Shirou' list. Caren was already there and she was worried Sakura wasn't far behind...now this one?!
A knock on the classroom's door interrupted her murderous train of thought, Zelretch widely grinning as he stated, "Ah, perfect! I believe those will be your tutors, Mr. Emiya."
Swinging wide the heavy wooden entryway revealed a pair of figures, one of them Illya didn't recognize at first glance...the other she did, eyes widening and jaw dropping.
The stranger had vibrant red hair, dark blue jeans and a white coat that revealed her toned midriff, scowling at her companion who seemed nothing if not dismissive of the other woman's attention.
...As for the woman Illya did know from sight alone?
"Ah, Blue, Queen! So kind of you to join us, I was worried you weren't going to show up."
Barthomeloi Lorelei ignored the Wizard Marshall's words, gaze instead landing on Shirou with lethal intent.
"So. You're the newly minted 26th Ancestor who I am to prepare for the upcoming hunt."
…
Illya made a mental note to kill the Kaleidoscope slowly and painfully.
And we yet again find ourselves tackling subject matter where I'm having to come up with most of the specifics based off of very vague explanations...actually that's what a great number of these following chapters are like, so bucle in for some CM bullshitting like never before!
And as for the reader who asked if they can take my ideas about Alaya or the Fate universe for their own stories?
Well firstly I'm not even really sure how I would stop you...but yeah, this story is fair game. It'd be kinda hypocritical to say 'no you cannot take inspiration or ideas from this story' when I'm basically writing this thing on the back of an already existing media.
Be inspired or boldly lift, all I really ask is that there's a mention here or there that it was originally mine and even that I'm pretty 'meh' about the whole credit deal. I'd be willing to put good money down on my takes not being the first out there.
...
And Shirou now has Lorelei's attention. RIP my boy.
