Fate/Stay Night: Umbra Bello
Blaze2121- to understand a lot of what happened, and what's about to happen, I'd recommend replaying…. rereading…? rewatching..? (Do you play, read, or watch a Visual Novel?) Heaven's Feel. And as for another reminder, Orso's only watched the UBW anime, so no Heaven's Feel, no Fate, no Ataraxia. He's fairly new to Nasuverse lore so he's trying to make sense of a lot of complicated stuff in a relatively short amount of time. Also, there are a lot of things that are not meant to be understood right away with the information I've revealed so far. The last half of your review wasn't exactly easy to understand so I'm sorry if this doesn't answer a lot of your questions.
Chapter XII- Beautiful Snake, Rotten Worm
Date: 02/03/2004
Time: 6:30 pm
Location: Outside Emiya Household
Flashback…
POV Shirou Emiya...
Kotomine grew what was almost a smile, and walked closer, his footsteps enunciated by the empty church.
"Very well. Tell me what you want to know." the priest seemed pleased by the conversation topic.
"First, I want to know if I'm a Master because of my Dad." Did his father bequif this role to him? Perhaps as some sort of unknown inheritance? After all, not only was his father a Master, but he was contracted to the same Heroic Spirit.
"I'd doubt as much. The role of Master is not a hereditary one. Only the Masters of the three founding families are guaranteed spots in the roster, and even then they have to choose to do so. Besides, even if it was, you have neither his magic crest, nor his blood in your veins." the priest surmised. "Rejoice young Emiya, for such a coincidence is so rare in the Holy Grail War it can only be fate you have become a Master."
"So then, my dad didn't choose to save me because of the Grail…" it was a relief to know that Kiritsugu was the hero he thought he was. Saving some kid out of that fire out of good will.
"Perhaps. I do not pretend to understand the thought processes of the Holy Grail. But there could still be more to it than mere chance." Kirei continued, "It would only be natural, I suppose, for the Grail to choose the progeny of Kiritsugu Emiya to rectify his grave sin against it."
"Grave sin..?" what could he mean?
Wait… he couldn't mean-
"No- no there's no way my Dad would-!"
"At the end of the war, your father was the one the Grail chose. Of that, I'm certain." the priest recited this fact clearly, but for the first time, his expression turned to one resembling anger "However, at the last moment, he chose to betray the Grail. He destroyed it, and forsook his long desired wish. I believe you're familiar with the result?"
…
…
it's hot
it's hot
it's hot
it's hot
it's hot
it's hot
m-mom?
get up
please
it's hot
withstood pain...
it's hot
p-please stop!
w-was I bad?
it's hot
it's hot
It's Hot
never hold...
It's Hot
IT'S HOT
…
No
No-no-no-no-no-NO!
H-His dad- he wouldn't-
He was a Hero DAMNIT!
Wait- this war, these battles, all this pain, his Dad must have been trying to stop it!
Yeah! He chose to destroy the Grail but… just must not have known about what would happen!?
Dad was a Hero
He Was
"To gain some marbles you have to trade some others."
…
…
Shirou noticed he was shaking.
His father tried to be a hero, but it didn't work out.
End of story.
"My Dad chose to destroy the Grail because he was a Hero! He tried to end the fighting in his own way but just… he made a mistake! He didn't "betray" anyone!" he retorted.
The priest seemed briefly surprised at the outburst. Then after reaching a conclusion smiled once more.
"Oh? I think the Einzberns would beg to differ." Kotomine nearly laughed at the thought. "Regardless, I think it's time someone told you the truth about Kiritsugu Emiya."
That's… that's why he came.
"Emiya Kiritsugu was not a traditional mage. Indeed, his profession is what one would call a freelancer. A mercenary. And one of- if not the- most skilled in the business. He was infamous for using the tactics, and defenses of traditional mage's against them through the use of modern techniques, and weapons. Earning himself the title… "Mage Killer.""
Even though he was long dead, the alias's very mention seemed to still carry its own weight
"For many years he moved from battlefield to battlefield. From war, to war. His reasons for fighting, his ideals? Known to him and him alone. He would fight, and kill with the greatest efficacy, and ruthlessness. Indeed, Kiritsugu Emiya was no hero. At best he was an Anti-Hero."
Shirou wanted to deny this. To exclaim to the world that this was nothing but lies, and slander.
But… he listened. Because for some reason… he knew the priest wasn't lying.
"Eventually, he came into contact with the Einzberns. An ancient, and powerful family of Homunculi from Germany. And one of the three Mage families that started the Holy Grail War. For nearly a thousand years the Einzberns had searched for a means to reach the Swirl of the Root. Only ever coming close when they helped create the Grail two hundred years ago." Kotomine began to describe the family of that little girl from last night.
"However, for all their effort, for all their persistent struggle, they could not reach the fruit of their labors. For all their power as Magi, none of their manufactured Masters could defeat even lowly second rate mages in combat. Denied the sole reason for their very existence for over a thousand years, they grew frustrated. After their complete, and utter failure in the third war, they began exploring… other solutions." he began to predate as he started to explain the events pre-dating the fourth war.
"Several years before the fourth war, the Einzberns began probing the mage world for the perfect proxy for their plans. They searched through the scum of the underworld. Through what families like them would consider slums. The rumors of the reach of this search are numerous, and occasionally ridiculous, however they all accumulated in their choice of one man. Your father, Kiritsugu Emiya. His record speaking for itself, they offered him the resources of the Einzberns, their connections, a wife, a daughter, and use of the very Grail itself so long as he claimed the Grail for them." he came to a stop closer to Emiya than before.
"Uh… personal space much?" Emiya thought as the priest continued on to the conclusion of the fourth war.
"However, even this was to be for naught. At the end of the Grail War, your Father chose to deny the Grail. Destroying it, betraying the Einzberns, betraying his family, killing hundreds, all for nothing. Kiritsugu Emiya was not a hero." the priest finished his monologue.
Present…
POV Orso...
… you know, I wonder if this is what parents feel like when their kids are extremely late from school?
Like… a little angry that the kids in question might have done something reckless, but mostly scared they might be in danger?
Considering some of the dumb shit he can get up to… maybe I should consider a leash?
… okay, that's a dumb thought. I'm sure he can take care of himself. And even if he can't, he's got Saber with him! That, and he's just going for a talk about his dad..! with the priest... the Master of Gilgamesh… who could be at the church right now… while Saber's with him…
… this war is reeeeeaaaally trying to give me a mental breakdown isn't it?
Theme Song- Fate/Stay Night - "Brave Shine" (FULL Opening) | ENGLISH ver | AmaLee
Five minutes later…
"Well, it was kinda obvious when you think about it. You didn't know much, Saber wasn't gonna talk. Kirei was the only guy with the answers." Assassin shrugged. … How do I know that? She's in spirit form- oh forget it.
I sighed. She had a point.
"Kinda wish you'd mentioned it earlier… like… when I could have said something to deter him..."
"Well, there's no reason to worry anymore. He's here." she pointed out as I looked to see the redhead coming out from a corner.
"Emiya? Can we talk for a… you doing okay buddy?" I was about to ask him what his thought process was when I noticed he seemed rather miffed himself.
"Yeah I just… learned some things that were hard to hear." he says, seeming to accept what he had learned.
"Oh. ...wanna... talk... about it..?(?)" again, question of a question.
As much as I want him to be mentally okay, neither of us want me to be his shrink.
"Okay... that was phrased really awkwardly, and no, I'm good." he seemed to bounce back.
Oh thank god.
"Oh good, then we can move on to the next point which is- next time you do anything Grail War related? It's probably wise to let your allies know." I say this with as much diplomacy as I can muster. "While it should be safe to move about during the daytime, there are no guarantees in war."
Shirou can be accommodating… but still, it's probably best not to antagonize the help with crazy sounding ramblings about the priest being dangerous while I have no evidence to back it up.
"Er… well I figured I had Saber with me, so I was probably fine?" Emiya shrugged at the thought of danger.
"... (((I'm guessing I should be happy we get that much from you?)))" I ask myself more than him in whispered English.
Considering his track record of charging headfirst into danger without help… this is a fairly big step for him. And so early on too!
Just watch! Before this is over, he'll be hanging back, letting his Servant handle the people he can't, while he does his actual job as a Master and supports her!
Y'know? The smart thing to do?
"Huh?" Emiya was tripped up by the language switch.
"Look just… remember that there are people out there, that are much stronger than you, that are looking to kill you, and that you have backup." I reminded him.
He considered this for a moment.
"Right… like that girl… Illya…" he thinks aloud.
"Yeah, her. And about four others, not including the Servants themselves."
"No I mean… she's out for me specifically." he begins to explain.
… wait. Does he already know?
Thinking about it… it probably came up with Kirei.
"Well, aren't you popular." I remark sarcastically.
"It's a long story but, you were right. I was a lot more involved with the Grail War than I thought." Shirou moved his hand behind his head regarding the large info dump for him, "Apparently she's my sister?"
"Oh. Perfect. Family drama. Just what this powwow needed..." I try my best to act surprised. "What're ya gonna do with that knowledge?"
"I… don't know?" he seemed at a loss. "My normal approach would be talking with them directly but…"
"Odds are you won't find her in a talking mood?"
He nods.
"Well, I wish I had some advice in this regard. My brother and I haven't always gotten along in the past but... he's never sicked a giant hulking rage monster at me… unless you'd count our dad… but... that's like comparing accidentally touching a hot stove, to getting Hiroshima'd… that isn't offensive...is it?"
"Not in this context. Besides, I see what you mean." oh good.
"(What's Hiroshima'd?)" Saber whispered to where Assassin should be.
"(I'm… not too sure actually? But I got a weird feeling that I don't like it.)" she answered back.
"Well, it'll have to wait. There are a few more pressing concerns at the moment." I allude to the Shinji situation.
"Right. So, how are we doing this?" Emiya turns his focus to the here and now.
"Given that they need Mana for their Servant, the Master we're looking for will be at one of two places. Either at the school setting up more sigils for his bounded field, or out on the nearby streets with their Servant looking for people to eat." I ready our gameplan, "We can either split up and cover more ground, or cover one area together. If he's out tonight, one of us will definitely find him if we go with option one, but with Saber still recovering, if it's you that runs into them, your advantage won't be as good as it could be. If we go with option two, if we run into them, they won't stand a chance. However, if we don't find them, depending on which we decide to cover, they'll either hurt more people, or have more time to set up their field. Essentially, we got three options here. Together at the school, together on the streets, or we split up. Got any preference?"
Emiya mulled it over. The various scenarios playing out in his head.
"Let's check out the streets by the school. If people are in danger we have to do something about it." he says, determined.
So, the immediate issue then?
"Right then. Let's go." I declare as I'm ready to head out.
"Wait, hold on a second!" Emiya rushes inside his house for a minute.
I blink, wondering what he could possibly-
"Aaaaand I'm back." he comes back holding a… a pipe?
"You're taking… a pipe?" I know I shouldn't be surprised anymore but…
"Yeah? I mean… it helps me with my magic? Besides. You never know when you might need one." he says like it's the most obvious fact in the world.
"... what kind of magic do you have where an ordinary pipe could possibly be of any use against a mage, or a Servant?" while I do know about his magic, it… still seems a bit odd for him to take a pipe of all things. This is like taking butter to a knife fight.
On second thought, never mind. I suppose it's better than nothing.
"Er… I mean… I'm not too sure about a Servant, but… if the Master's evil, I could hit 'em pretty hard with it? My reinforcement magic is pretty good." he shrugs.
"If it helps Master, I totally approve of this magic. This is way cooler than what I thought you did." Saber supports him.
"See? Saber likes my pipe." Shirou thanks his Servant.
"..." I resist the urge to verbally point out how that can be misconstrued. Instead, my raised eyebrow made him realize it himself, to which he started sputtering.
"M-Master!? Choose your words more carefully please!" the blonde Servant protests. Blushing.
"N-No! I didn't mean- Wh-Wha-What I meant to say was-!"
I roll my eyes. With Okita's laughing at their antics in spirit form spilling into my head through our connection I nearly start laughing myself.
Well, at least we're starting tonight off on a high note.
Three hours later…
It was getting very cold. And very quiet.
Only the sounds of Shinto in the far distance were of any indication we were anywhere close to another human being. Hell, even the cicadas, quite common in the city parks (like the one we're close to), were dead silent. This had me thinking for a while that there had to be a Master nearby. This was the perfect place to catch an unwary victim alone. But… nobody.
I'm probably just being impatient. If not a little jittery. I'm still new to the whole battle scene.
I remember hearing somewhere that the waiting is the worst part. And frankly, whoever said that might have a point. Something tonight has me on edge...
"Anyone else get the feeling we're being watched?" I ask the rest of our little group.
"I'm not detecting any Servants. And you're the Master of Assassin, so I'm unconcerned." Artoria answered.
I frowned. Something was off.
"Assassin. For the sake of my peace of mind, watch from the rooftops. I think we got company." I can't prove it… but I know someone is there.
"Right." she enters presence concealment, and fades into the night.
We kept walking for a while longer. Nearly another twenty minutes before Emiya spoke up.
"Starting to think I made the wrong call…" he doubts.
"Giving up already?" I tease.
"No but… I just feel like we should have seen something by now." he sounds more concerned than whinny.
"Well, this is a Master with a weakened Servant we're talking about. Being conspicuous wouldn't get them very far." even Matou has to understand that.
Still, he's not wrong. I reckon we covered about 70% of Miyama. I'm kinda surprised we haven't even run into Rin at this point. Considering she's back in action faster than expected.
Note to self- Just because she's crazy doesn't mean she ain't smart. She's probably got some pretty powerful healing magic if UBW Shirou's still functioning heart is of any indication.
I figured a concussion wasn't gonna stop her for very long. It just turned out it wouldn't stop her period.
But enough about crazy axe murderers, let's talk about Shinji.
"You got a point though... How about we keep going for another hour or two? It's a bit further from the target area, but maybe we should try the doc-"
"AAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIII!"
We all turned to the sound of the scream.
"Aaaaaand- That's our cue." I note as Emiya runs in that direction.
"~HERE I COME TO SAVE THE DAY!~" he announces… like an idiot.
"... why?" I ask the moon.
"Master! Slow down!" Saber goes after him. Catching up quickly as he rounds a corner.
Coming back to the situation at hand, I start thinking of a plan. With Emiya charging straight in, I decide to take an alternative approach.
"Assassin. Find a way to flank our foe." I order. Since he's got them distracted, let's handle this with a bit more strategy.
"Roger Master, I can see what's going on from here. They're in a dead end alley. I can still hit them from above. Just say the word." She responds.
"Be ready." I move to follow Shirou.
"Watch yourself Master. A cornered animal can be a dangerous one." She warns. The sadistic tone slipping into her voice.
Oh yeah… we should probably talk about that.
"Ayako!?" I hear Emiya shout as I turn a corner.
I then see his shocked face contort into a horrified one as I catch up to him.
"Okay Shirou? We're gonna have to have a talk about this whole "Teamwork" thing- oh god." turning to look at what has his attention reveals something a bit… disturbing.
A girl, about our age, starts floating in the air. Almost like she's being pulled up by strings. Like a puppet.
But when she turns, she has a half-lidded stare. Looking off into the distance. Clearly not home right now.
Then, the air behind her shifts as a Servant appears.
Rider. AKA Medusa.
I don't remember it was explicitly stated in UBW… but it was kinda heavily applied.
Still, beyond that, I learned it when I was learning what to watch next.
Also, sidenote? She's hot.
Like, way, waaay hot-
Focus. Focus, focus, focus, focus, FOCUS Rob!
Licking her lips of blood, she gently puts the girl down. Almost caring for her victim, whom we now see has two puncture wounds on her neck. The slow rising, and lowering of her chest telling she still held on to life.
The Servant tilts her head in curiosity at the Masters before her, and grows a smug face.
"You-! Stay away from-!" Emiya almost rushed in when Saber blocks him.
Step-step-step-step-step-step-
"Oh? To think it would be you Shirou?"
Aaaand I hate him already.
"S-Shinji!?" Sabers Master is tripped up by the oh so shocking plot twist.
As the crown prince of shitland descends from a catwalk, I ready my circuits for a fight.
"Define real."
pain-pain-pain…
Damn. My circuits weren't as recovered as I thought.
We're gonna have to make this short.
"I hoped that I wouldn't have to kill my best friend, but what can be done? Oh, if you had only come to me sooner, we wouldn't have to fight." he adds an… oddly condescending tone to his voice.
"I-I'm sorry? Are you talking like that for his benefit? Or for your Servant?" I ask, genuinely confused. "Or do you normally talk like an insufferable jackass?"
"Wha- How DARE you speak to me in that manner!" he whines.
"Oh- uh, pardon me, where are my manners? Hello garbage Master. How's that Mana supply for your Servant coming along?"
"You…. You mock me!? I'm the heir to the Matou bloodline!" he boasts.
"(Could've fooled me…)" I shrug.
It's at this point that his eyebrows twitch.
"Rider. Kill him first." he orders.
"Are you absolutely sure? This seems to be going swimmingly for you so far." I swear, I just saw her smirk. I guess there isn't really much of a bond there.
"Shinji!" Emiya interrupts, "What the hell are you doing!?"
"Oh, Shirou… are you referring to poor Ayako here, or me ordering your new friend to be skinned alive?" he asks with pride.
"...yes."
"Well, in case it wasn't clear, I, Shinji Matou, am the Master of the Rider Servant-"
"Yes… believe whateeeever you want…" Rider… I can tell she's rolling her eyes through her blindfold.
… I'm sorry? I-Is he not?
"YES. I. AM RIDER!"
… I'm confused. Is he not actually her Master? Or is she being smart with him?
Cause, I know I would never acknowledge him as a Master...
"suuuuuure…." she 'assures' him, almost innocently.
Well, isn't she just a treat?
"Shinji! Why would you do this to Ayako!?" Emiya demands to know.
"Emiya!? How could you accuse me of such a thing? I never hurt Ayako." he puts on an incredibly fake hurt tone.
"Er… I'm pretty sure she'd disagree if your Servant hadn't pulled a Nosferatu on her?" Emiya objects.
"Exactly! I didn't hurt Ayako. I simply ordered Rider to do it." he shrugged.
"...what the hell kind of distinction did you just make!?" a fair question.
"Like a lot of things he makes, a poor one. A poor distinction, a poor human being, and a poor Master." I add.
"...'grrrr' you….." the sister abuser grit his teeth.
"Of course, 'hehe', you're free to prove me wrong about any of the three, at any time. Unless you prefer to stand there and bluster at us all night?" I goaded him.
That girl is alive right now, but I don't know how bad her blood loss is. The sooner we deal with this the better.
It's then he seems to remember something about that book in his hands, and smirks.
"Very well! Summon your Servant clown! I'll show you what a real Master can do!" he continued to bluster.
"See… I would do that… but the thing is, I don't think you're even worth bringing em' out for. Which is why I'm just gonna stand aside, and let Emiya's Servant here take care of business. Ya dig Saber?" I get out of the Servants way.
"Ain't no thang." she steps up.
If I pissed off Shinji before, he was mutinous now.
Then, he takes a deep breath.
Lets it out.
Raises the book in front of him.
And orders-
"Rider. Kill them all."
"If I must…" she sounds disappointed. Having wanted the roast to continue. And readies for battle.
Then is gone in the blink of an eye.
Even though this is still according to plan, I still flinch when my brain catches up and sees her right in front of my face before-
CLANG!
Saber strikes with Invisible Air.
The Rider had blocked with her chain Daggers, and thus suffered no injuries. Merely being knocked back towards her Master, who had only barely sidestepped in time to avoid the Servant/Projectile. Then, she used her acrobatic skills, and momentum to come at us once again from above.
With her chains appearing, and covering the entire alley, I couldn't help but feel she had planned to be attacked here. Shinji might be fighting blindly, but I doubt she is, even with that blindfold.
Thing is, she doesn't know what Servant to expect from me. Likely aiming for a straight fight.
Little does she know, Assassin is currently awaiting the opportune moment to take Matou hostage. And force him to burn through his command seals. Hopefully ending this peaceful-
CRASH
BAM!
-aaaaand she's down.
…
...
… wut?
Strangely enough, I think Shinji and I had a similar expression for a moment. Only, his is out of confused horror, and mine's out of expecting more.
Rider was sitting a corner on the other end of the alley in a crater of her own making. Looking worse than the girl she Nosferatud.
Emiya only just now seemed to catch up with what happened, and blinked.
Saber took one look at the scene, and grew a smug smile at the Matou Master.
"Aw… maaan…" Assassin doesn't hide her own disappointment.
"Fascinating…" I muttered, breaking the sudden silence, "I wasn't expecting much of anything, and he still found a way to disappoint."
"I- …. Wha-did…?" Riders Master tried to process what just happened. Turning back, and forth between us, and his Servant.
I knew she was weakened but… I blinked and she was defeated!
Now that I notice it, I can see Saber dropping a part of Rider's chain. Likely having used Riders rather impractical weapon against her.
"Di- Did we... win?" Emiya asked, pretty much at as much of a loss as the rest of us.
"Ordinarily I'd tell you to pipe down before you jynx us… but I almost want her to get back up again." make this two Grail Wars she's accomplished nothing in…
Shinji began to slowly move towards his Servant, almost looking shell shocked, then turned his back to us to stand in front of her.
"hey… did I say you can lose?" he mutters with a dangerous tone before raising his book- "GET UP!"
BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZT
"GYAAAAAAAA!" Rider convulsed as Magical Energy shocked her. The book in her Master's hand glowing.
I flinched. This wasn't a command seal. It almost looked like he was torturing her into complying.
"I… I am Shinji Matou! I will NOT BE HUMILIATED LIKE THIS! GET UP YOU USELESS SERVANT! GET UP AND KILL THEM!" he ordered, and the electrocution seemed to turn up to eleven.
"This is… hard to watch…" whether she would have killed me, or not, seeing anyone tortured is just… it's horrible.
"Shinji. Stop. It's over. Give up your command seals, and we can pretend this never happened." Emiya tried talking him down.
"no no no no No NO NO NOO! I- I'm a Master! You- You're nothing! I AM THE HEIR TO THE MATOU BLOODLINE-"
"No You're only a disgrace."
Huh?
We all look around for the source of the voice that seems to be emanating from all around us.
Whoever this was… they didn't sound quite human.
"Wh-Wha- 'GAH'!" Shinji looked… terrified for a moment before-
FWOOOOOOOOSH!
The Tome in his hand burst into flames.
"NO! nononononononononNoNONO nohohoo..!" the Master of Rider seemed to beg his book not to leave him as he tried to put the flames out. But there was nothing he could do.
In seconds, it was nothing but ash.
And Rider was gone in a cloud of blue particles.
"(the hell…?)" was… was the book his command seals?
"Perhaps I expected too much from you, Shinji."
And from panic, the now former Masters eyes turn to fear. And he scrambles to get away from something in the darkness.
Whoever this voice belongs to…
"Assassin? You got eyes on..? …. Assassin..? Okita, respond!"
"Y-Yeah, I see em..." she sounds almost… not scared… somewhere between shock, and horror.
"G-Grandpa!" Shinji manages to call out as he backs himself into a corner.
Grandfather?! What's this now?
What we see next is… hard to describe. The best way I can put it… it's like watching a corpse pretending to be a person walking out of those shadows. While the scent of rot engulfs the air.
… Netflix adaptation Sans?
Are we sure this aint his Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-GREAT-Grandfather?
"Oh… it's you…" Emiya recalls his last meeting with the… man..? zombie…? thing…? It. Let's call em' an it.
This it steps out of the shadows using a walking cane. But… there were no footsteps.
"I'd see you punished, but that would imply I expected something accomplished." it says sardonically.
The Matou with still living flesh moved passed his fear to try begging his 'Grandfather'.
"Grandpa! I- I can still beat these nobodies! I-I'll prove to you I'm the rightful heir to the-"
"All you've proven is that you're incapable of meeting even my lowest expectations. Like father, like son. I knew the Makiri bloodline would end with you. My only hope was that it would be with dignity. You've denied us even this." ...geeze, with love like this, who needs hatred?
For the briefest moment, I wonder if this is why Shinji is the way he is, and I actually kinda feel bad for picking on him.
Then I remember he beats his own sister, and I care significantly less than before.
Also, another sidenote? The way that it is twisting its own neck to look at his 'grandson'? Kill it. Kill it with all the fire. And the-
Wait, Makiri?
The corpse turns away from his disgrace of a grandson, and towards us, then walks forward.
There's something… wrong about him. Saber senses it too, and steps back. Closer to her Master, ready to shield him while I ready myself to duck for cover at any time.
"I see… so Rider will shoulder even less of the blame. Having faced a spirit of such renown." he compliments Saber when he comes to a stop. "So be it then. Come, Servant of the blade. Strike this old man down. For I, Matou Zouken will be your opponent now."
... dafuq?
I-is he sacrificing himself for Shinji?
Noticing the copy-pasted expression on my, and Sabers face, he explains.
"Though he is utterly worthless as an heir, and it pains me to say it, he is still my grandson." ...so this thing understands the concept of 'you can choose your friends, but can't choose your family', but Shinji can't?
"I am ready to sacrifice this body if it shields him Master of, and Servant Saber." he says while looking at-
"Oh, er, I'm not her Master, he is." I explain the… strange assumption.
If he had eyebrows, he would have raised one before continuing.
"The point still stands." he says before turning to Shinji, "Run boy. Run and leach another day."
The significantly younger Matou almost glares at the bag of skin before scampering away.
"I-I WILL HAVE MY REVENGE!" he declares as he runs past us.
No one moves to stop him as he goes. We're all too focused on the new threat before us.
"(And option bluster it was, apparently…)" I break the silence, muttering.
This older Matou… if he's the true head of the family, even with two Servants, we ought to be on our guard. After all, Rin went toe to toe with Caster for a time, and she was still a teenager. This guy…
He looks like he could have been there for the first Grail War.
Just because his family had degraded… it doesn't mean he has.
"... I see. You're not sending the spare Servant after him. Not even worth killing is he?" he laments.
"My Servant is a lot of things old man. "spare" isn't one of them." I say with pride in her.
Okita's more than earned my respect. If I had any doubts before, they were crushed when she stood up to Cu Chulainn, and took one of Heracles's lives while she had a handicap.
He chuckles for a moment, before we start the standoff.
I slowly reach into my pocket for a very special rune I've been working on.
If I did it right, with the power source it's got (one of the gems)… it should give us a momentary edge if this gets rough.
… be a perfect moment for some tumbleweed to pass by…
…
…
"Wait! Hold on a second!" Emiya interrupts.
"Master stay back! This man is more dangerous than he seems-!" more!? He already looks like The Thing as it is!
"Nah~! Saber, it's fine! I know em'!" he… what's he doing?
Either saving your life, or dooming us all.
"...how exactly?" I beg the question.
"I had like… one conversation with him the other day." he explains.
…
…
… why couldn't I have been paired with the older Emiya?
"oNe HuNDrED pERCenT- MAXIMUM NO CHILL!"
Oh yeah…
On second thought. One should always be thankful for the small blessings they have.
"Emiya. This guy looks like he just walked off the set of a horror film-"
"Well, that's rude..." the aforementioned movie monster speaks up.
"You literally smell like a dozen campers that have been dead for three weeks!" I point out.
"... not untrue…" he seems to concede… or admit.
"-do ya really think this is a good idea?" I finish asking the redhead.
"Pfft, yeah, totally..! Besides… there's something I need to ask…" he gets serious.
"So… could you… please explain something for me?"
… dooming us all it is.
"... hmph. Looks like rudeness is an all too common trait of this generation…" the old man laments once more.
"Why is Shinji a Master? He obviously isn't a good Mage." a fair question, and one with two possible answers.
Either Shinji wanted a chance to show off, and prove himself as an heir, or this guy had no other option.
"Hm. Not that I have any reason to tell you anything, but if it makes you happy to know, I have been retired for some time. As such, it was only natural that my heir took my place. Evidently, however, there is no heir to the Makiri. This war is to be our last." so, more or less both?
Our… hold on.
"-wait, so, is it Matou, or Makiri?" I ask.
"Both. We came to this land as Makiri. But changed to Matou. It's… a play on words in Japanese." he explains.
Oh… okay? That doesn't needlessly complicate it at all!
Still, it makes sense. The Japanese were an isolationist society at best back in the time in the first Grail War. If you were gonna move here back then, it's probably best to try and fit in as much as possible.
"Two hundred years ago we came to this land. Working with the Einzbern, and Tohsaka, we sought to achieve the greatest ambition for any family of Magi. However, the land itself has not been kind to our blood. We have declined with each generation." he… exposates?
Is… is this becoming a thing right now?
Shut up and listen. He might say something important.
Good point brain. Let the old man ramble.
"Tohsa-? so Rin is in on this too?" Shirou doesn't sound too surprised. Just disappointed that his concern had been realized.
Yeah, today's been one big shake up for his worldview. One of his friends turned out to be a sociopathic magi, turns out he has a sister, and now his crush is out to murder him.
Not a good day to be Emiya Shirou.
"If that is the name of the Tohsaka heir, yes. Outside of the Grail Wars, our families have been allied for generations. Unfortunately, it appears that that relationship will come to an end soon. With how we've fallen, I doubt the Tohsaka heir would give the Matou the time of day." he laughs grimly.
To be fair, I'm not the heir to an ancient Magi family, but even I don't want to be caught anywhere remotely near this walking morgue.
Have I mentioned the smell? God, it smells worse than rotten cheese wrapped in dirty socks dipped into toilet mountain dew that had someone light it all on fire.
Don't do the dew!
"Then Sakura… is she a Mage too?" he almost sounds betrayed.
Sakura… I don't think I've ever held an actual conversation with her. And yet… she just kept putting out red flags. I don't care what this guy says.
"No." the old mage states very firmly. And very quickly. "Sakura does not have the capacity to be a Master. We would have put her up for adoption long ago if she had enough Magic Circuits for anyone to be interested in taking her."
hm... methinks there be a lie here. Or at least a half truth.
"Adoption?" I raise an eyebrow.
Sure she's no mage… but she's still your kid!
Wasn't this guy about to sacrifice himself for someone he considered worthless?
"It is a common practice among mage families to only train, and raise one heir. Only one mage can take the magic crest. With few exceptions. Any spare children are either raised unaware of the moonlight world, or on rare occasions, adopted by families in need of an heir."
I knew that about crests… but to put your own child up for adoption because they can't have the crest? That seems… shortsighted, and wasteful. As well as callous.
I imagine for a moment the magical potential that has been likely lost over countless generations because of this. Potential researchers, and practitioners of magecraft that could have stood on their own without that inheritance. The branch families that could have been. All creating their own magics, and forging their own goals, and dreams.
It's like… pruning branches that don't need to be pruned. So many flowers that could have bloomed...
It just seems pointlessly wasteful.
"So… she's normal? Not a mage?" Shirou continues.
"Yes. She doesn't even know our family is one of magi." Strange… despite lamenting Shinji's poor quality. He doesn't seem too broken up about Sakura…
This leads me to believe that she is either completely beneath his notice, or…
Or there's more to her than he wants us to know.
Still… Sakura's a quiet girl. Not particularly confrontational, or outspoken. At the most she's passive-aggressive. There's still a chance of the situation being the former.
Normally, I'd doubt him about Sakura not noticing they were Magi. Particularly when you can smell that there's something wrong about this old man. Living with em'? The most unobservant potato in the world could tell he isn't human.
Then I remember hypnosis is a thing. From what I understand of it, it can give the Jedi mind trick a run for its money. I tried it once when I tried to get the lady running the hotel we used to be at to forget we were ever there. Hopefully making us hard to track for enemy Masters. It… seemed to work? I kinda still feel worried I might've gotten something wrong and given her some nasty side effects. It was from that point forward I decided to never use people as guinea pigs again.
Granted, I'll still use hypnosis if push comes to shove, and I need to go all MIB on some bystander that happens to see me doing magic. I won't kill witnesses.
Note to self though, just to be sure, when I get a moment, I'll check on her. Just for peace of mind.
"In hindsight, perhaps she could have proven more useful than Shinji… but what's done, is done. No point in using her now." he looks back on this.
Emiya sighs in relief.
"Neat. Shinji is done, Sakura's not a Mage, and you're retired right?" he sounds satisfied.
"Indeed. Although Shinji being Shinji…" the Matou elder sighs himself. "He will doubtlessly do something reckless to prove himself as my heir. Perhaps if I spent time "training" him he'd know some humility..."
Right. He did say he'll 'have his revenge'.
I doubt he'll cause too much damage without a Servant? Even if he runs to Kirei, I doubt Gilgamesh would bother with someone who lost so early on in the war.
Still, a nuisance at the wrong time can be a huge issue.
The old Matou begins to back away into the shadows.
"So then, what will it be young Masters? Will you strike this old man down?" he dares us to make a move.
I'm half tempted to put an end to this abomination. But… I glance at the girl.
She's still breathing. Barely. She won't last long enough for us to finish this fight.
Saber seems to come to the same conclusion.
She slightly lowers her blade. But keeps it ready. A warning for his next actions.
"Go before I change my mind." Saber dismisses him with disgust. "And if your heir steps close to my Master…"
"Hm. Very well then. What say you, Master of Assassin?" he-
Hold up.
"I… never said which Servant I had…" notice the detail.
Even if he was watching us before she went into presence concealment… he wouldn't know her class just by looking at her.
"Oh? Pardon me. Perhaps this old man was feeling nostalgic, and said something foolish." he laughs.
Nostalgic?
"... get out of here, and don't make me regret it." I made my own warning.
He makes a twisted smile before stepping back into the shadows. There's… and audible flutter, and he's gone. I noticed there was a sewer grate there a moment later.
Did… he disappear into there?
I sigh in relief as the tension, and the smell leaves the area.
"Well… that happened." I comment.
"So it did." Saber puts away her blade.
So, in review, Rider's dead, the Matou elder is a living sack of rotten meat, and Shinji sucks.
Oddly, tonight doesn't quite feel like victory.
"C'mon…." Emiya is… already trying to help that person. "Don't quit just yet Ayako!"
"(emiya..? you have nice hands...)" ...famous last words?
"Okay… that's some heavy blood loss… where's the nearest hospital?" I try to remember.
"No point. Rider drained her mana as much as her blood. Unless the donor has plenty of spare mana, she'll still die." Saber warns.
"We're going to Kotomine." Shirou states.
"The priest?" Why would he help? In fact, I think he'd kill her himself just to see Emiya's distraught face.
"He told me that he'll help in these situations." the other Master explains.
I think about it for a moment.
… is there no other option?
None that I can think of…
Rin does have healing magic, but I'm not sure if she's trustworthy right now.
Well, if it's the priest or nothing…
"Hold on. Assassin, get down here!" I order, and she appears before us in less than a moment.
"I'll get her there in two minutes. You guys just catch up." She offers, taking Ayako from Emiya's hands. Having caught on to my idea.
She's the fastest Servant here after all.
She's gone in a blink of an eye. Only slightly slower than her maximum to ensure she doesn't hurt Ayako with whiplash.
"Follow me. I'll lead the way." Saber says before running in the same direction.
"Right!" Emiya follows quickly.
"Now hold-! on." aaaaand they're already gone.
…. Fuck.
"... 'argh'..." I get myself ready for another loooooooong run. "Always with the fucking running… fuck this cardio bullshit!" I bitch as I jog the entire way because fuck you if you think I'm running all the way to Kotomine.
"Some" jogging later…
"'pant' Fuck…. 'pant' This…. 'pant' bullshit…." I stop to catch my breath at the gates of the church.
"Master!" I hear Okita exclaim. "I was starting to get worried."
"... I swear, if I get out of this? I'll give my body the Saitama treatment…" I nearly growl at my useless body. Warning it of the pain to come.
"... well, at least it got you here safe?" Okita offers meekly. "So, ya still want to train tomorrow?"
Right, still doing that Kendo thing.
"... sure. We don't have much else to do during the day." If it's not magic training, or recon… "So, how's the patient?"
"Haven't heard from the priest yet. That was a while ago." she reports.
I nod, then notice Saber standing not too far away… still staring at me suspiciously.
I suppose I didn't quite prove myself as trustworthy tonight.
"Your Master inside?" I ask.
She just nods, and stands aside.
Well, good news is, Gilgamesh ain't here.
Slightly less cautious than before, I decide to go in, and check on the affairs.
Creeeeeeeee
The doors complain as I enter the scene.
Ah, I see Kotomine still has no understanding of the concept of personal space.
"-could I call myself a priest if my flock left church with more doubts?" he seems to rhetorically answer some question of Emiyas, before turning to me. "In fact, here's one now."
Hm?
"I apologize if I'm interrupting anything Kotomine. Just checking in on the girl." I say with diplomacy.
"Ayako will be fine." Emiya answers, relieved. "I was just leaving."
"Good to hear." I permit myself a moment of relief as well. "If all is fine, let's head back then."
"Right. See ya later. (ya fake priest…)" Emiya almost laughs as he mutters.
"Oh, feel free to drop in at any time… Emiya… ooooh, that never gets old!" the Priest enjoys the name.
I let Emiya leave first. Then move to exit.
"Hold one moment." I stop suddenly as Kotomine speaks up.
"What do ya want?" I sound more whiny than I would have liked… but, It's been a long night.
"My apologies, I simply want to talk for a moment." he speaks.
...
"Be ready." I order Okita.
If the priest is on to me…
I put on my best mask of an oblivious Master, and turn.
"Very well, what's eating ya?"
"I simply wished to apologize." … wut? "I was dismissive of you both times you were here before. Having expected little from one such as you. However, since then you've shown yourself to be craftier than I initially believed."
… what's he doing?
"er... thank you? To be honest, I pretty much stumbled my way up to this point." I shrug. Conceding that much. Making him laugh.
"One doesn't stumble their way through three battles involving Servants." I guess he's counting Lancer as well? "Mere luck can only carry one so far. Take pride, young Master. I am certain now that the Grail did not make a mistake."
Daw, he's gonna make me blush.
Still, he does have a point. If I was completely imcompetent, I'd be in much the same boat as Shinji right now.
Still, Lancer wasn't actually trying, Illya was playing with her food, and Rider… well she had Shinji as a Master.
They all were held back.
I'm not so sure I can say the same.
"Oh? There was doubt before?" I pretend to brag.
"Some. The Grails decision to choose you as a Master seemed… unusual at first. Indeed, the Grail does not choose Masters without a will to fight. At first glance you appeared to have none. Claiming you fought out of necessity was… vague, and unspecific. Whatever your wish is, it has carried you on through hardship. And will continue to do so." the priest acknowledged.
… I feel like he's buttering me up. Question is… what for?
…
He's fishing for something.
"Wish? I have nothing as grand as that in mind." I… I stop myself before continuing. Nearly slipping up.
"Oh?" Kotomine raises an eyebrow?
"What I might want? It's not something I want the Grail to give me. If I had the Grail, I'd be perfectly fine giving it away to someone more deserving. Someone with a good wish." now this is a lie.
If I had the untainted Grail? I'd use it to help my home reality. Save it from whatever happened there.
The tainted one? If I couldn't destroy it without hurting people, I'd hide it. Hide it away until someone with the capacity to fix it would come along.
Beyond that? I couldn't care less for the cup. Although, maybe I'd still destroy it, even if it was untainted. That thing… I don't think humans are meant to handle that type of power.
As for crap like world peace, or ending world hunger… I have a… less than typical opinion on that. Although I don't particularly like that opinion either.
As much as I want it… as much as I want such a world where no one needs to cry, I can't help but feel that using something like the Grail to achieve it would cheapen it.
To bend reality to make a utopia… it says something about humans. Says that we have to break the rules to function. That we're so bad, so… so greedy, and rotten on the inside that we have to cheat to create such a world… it would be the same as throwing in the towel on humanity.
To force salvation on the world is the same as admitting that it's not worth saving.
And yet… that isn't fair.
I'm privileged.
I've never been hungry.
I've never had to watch friends, or family die.
I've never killed.
For me to make that decision for the world… to choose not to save them when so many are suffering because of… philosophy!? Because of an ideal?
It isn't fair to the millions of people who starve every day.
It isn't fair to the families that have been torn apart by war.
It isn't fair to those who are forced to fight, and kill just to survive.
I hope I never get the Grail. I hope I never have to make that choice.
I just want to blow it up, and be done with it.
And yet? That's a sign of defeat to begin with, isn't it?
As much as I want there to be a way to save the world without condemning it, I just… don't think there is one.
…. Oh, fuck, I'm rambling again, ain't I?
Sorry about that!
"Oh? Is that right?" Kotomine raises an eyebrow, then laughs, "'hehe' perhaps history repeats itself more often than one would think?"
He wasn't talking to me when he said that.
"... The implication here being..?" now I'm a bit lost.
"Robert Orso." The priest turns his attention to me once again. Seeming amused. "The Holy Grail does not make Masters of those without a strong desire for it. Whether you know what that desire is… whether you acknowledge what that desire is? It doesn't matter. Your wish, buried within you, will undoubtedly arise. Yorokobe. For the truth of Robert Orso shall be revealed along with his desire."
My truth? My desire?
Hmph. Fuck em'.
So what if I do actually want something? An entire planet's worth of people is not worth whatever my deepest subconscious is secretly begging me for.
I'd gladly live my life in silent suffering if it meant people could keep looking for the answers I want. To know there's a chance someone long after me can find the solution to that conundrum. Even if I never get to know it myself.
"Maybe it will, maybe it won't, either way, I still got a war to win..." I sigh as I ready to leave.
"Permit me one more moment." Kirei stopped me. "Shirou Emiya briefly mentioned something that caught my attention, and I'd like to know. Did Zouken Matou appear tonight?"
I blink. Kirei… he doesn't seem particularly fond of the it.
"Yeah? Why?" Perhaps he knows something I don't.
The priest mulls it over for a moment before answering.
"Perhaps it's nothing. Perhaps it's everything." he says dismissively before seeing me off. "Farewell, Robert Orso. I can tell you and I will be seeing much of each other very soon."
That's not ominus at all.
It's only gotten colder by the time I step outside. In fact, it's actually starting to snow.
Saber, and Emiya are gone. Likely having gone ahead, but Assassin is still here.
"Master. You okay?" my Servant asks.
I fight back a smile. It's… a relief to know I have at least one person I can count on in all this.
"Yes Assassin. Everything's fine. Leave it to a priest to just want to talk to someone eh?" I joke. "Where's our wayward hero of justice?"
"Gone home after having a lovey-dovey moment. If I didn't know any better, I'd say those two were already hitched." she laughs.
"Is that so? Perhaps I'm more oblivious than I thought…" I note.
Saber is the main heroine, and love interest of the first route after all. Or so I've heard. Maybe that's how this is gonna play out without Tohsaka?
I'm not so interested in someone else's relationship, and more curious about the whole butterfly effect of me being here.
"Of course, now I'm worried about poor Sakura." Assassin sighs.
"...hm…" my spidey senses are a-tangling…
This girl… she just keeps popping up.
If the principle of Chekhov's Gun applies here…
We should investigate.
Passively, for now. In case I'm being paranoid.
Still… there's something else. Something I think I should say.
"...hey, Assassin..? T-Thank you." I mutter out.
"Eh? What for?" she's tripped up.
"Look, I… I'm not the greatest Master. I'm not very strong, not the most resourceful, I don't know a lot of magic but… despite that, you're sticking with me. Whether that's because you're stuck with me, or not… what I'm trying to say is, thank you for your hard work-"
"Master, we've been over this haven't we? You're not useless. You've proved it. Twice yesterday, and once today. But… can I ask you something?"
"Yeah. Sure."
"Each fight. Each fight I think you've seen a certain different side of me…" she refers to her 'sadist' mode. "Master… I'm a killer. I killed people for a living when I was alive, and I didn't think much of it. I still don't. When most people see that part of me, it can scare them. What I want to know is… are you fine with having this killer as your Servant?"
"Yes. Absolutely." I answer quickly. "I can't condone killing for no reason. I never will. But… I think there's more to you than that. Just as I've seen that side of you, I've seen the Okita that's strong, kind and cheerful. I don't think I'd accept any other Servant as a substitute. Just… don't kill anyone without a reason for it okay?"
"that's... that's fine Master. I uh… I'll thank you too… I-I'm sorry what was that other thing we were on about?" she seems a bit flustered. Heh, it's kinda cute-
stop-stop-stop-stop-STOP
I think back for a moment.
"Hm… I think I was lamenting my existence again." I joke.
pfft. Jeeze. The hell was all this about?
"Hm, so was it your turn to bemoan, or mine to lift you up?" she sighs.
"Well… since we lost our place- oh~! How I am pathetic!" I say in a tone mocking a robot.
"Oh, you're soooo great Master~!" Okita laughs.
I think tonight left off on a better note than expected.
End Theme- This Illusion (LiSA)
So… Heaven's Feel ignorant Self Insert Abridged. Thoughts?
Although, I should admit, things are gonna diverge from that route too. When? Well, you'll just have to read, and see.
Until next time...
