Chapter 1 - Faery 1

Shirou jerked awake with a scream, gasping for breath, his eyes filling with tears. He looked around frantically, searching for the man in the suit and the monster, but all he could see was a field of multicolored flowers stretching to the horizon. His heart hammered in his chest, and cold fingers of panic closed on him, but he tried to fight it. He was alone as far as he could tell. He hugged himself tightly as the phantom pain of being burned alive made him shiver.

"I-I'm fine, I'm fine, I'm … fine."

He repeated over and over, trying to calm himself down. He sat still for five minutes, muttering the same words as the gentle breeze ruffled his hair, the tranquil silence helping him relax.

After taking one last deep breath, Shirou once again looked around. This wasn't Fuyuki. This wasn't anywhere even close to his hometown, he was sure. In every direction, all he could see was an endless field of colorful flowers covering gently rolling hills, broken only by an occasional green tree or jutting rock. The scent and the warm glow of the sun, coupled with vivid colors, created an otherworldly atmosphere. It was supposed to be late autumn, yet here he felt like the middle of spring. Also, the amount of mana here was not normal, much higher than he had ever felt. He may lack in experience, his magecraft amateurish at best, but he was sure of that. And the most unnerving thing was that he somehow felt at home here.

A little freaked out, Shirou inspected his body. His clothes, as he expected, were half burned and dirty with dried blood, but there was no trace of his wounds. His arm was unbroken, and his hair and skin were unburned. Although on a closer look, his skin tone appeared to be a few shades lighter than he remembered.

Thoroughly confused and apprehensive, Shirou took off in a random direction. He didn't know where he was, but waiting in place seemed like a bad idea. Last he remembered, it was night, but now it was the middle of the day, not to mention getting from the forests of Fuyuki to this place, wherever it was, must've taken some time. If nobody found him by now, then there was a slight chance somebody would anytime soon if anyone was even searching.

It may have been the man in the suit, Shirou wondered as he walked, but he didn't seem like the type to kidnap someone and just leave them be. Murder them horribly, maybe. But not kidnap and leave alone.

The only plausible explanation he could imagine was some kind of magical transportation. Someone or something saved his life by accident or intentionally. Who or what, Shirou had no idea.

Lost in thoughts, Shirou lost track of time. The sun appeared to be stuck in place, never changing position, and even after what felt like hours of walking, the fields of flowers blurred together. But he couldn't be sure. Shirou wasn't tired in the slightest. He could only guess how long it had been since he woke up.

Finally, after walking for what felt like a full day, something changed in the air. Shirou stopped. He arrived at a boundary of this place, he was sure. He didn't see anything, nor anything changed around here, but something deep inside of him told him the truth. One step in the right direction, and he will leave.

Shirou hesitated but, after a moment, took a step forward.

He held his breath, preparing for the worst – but nothing changed. His brow furrowed in consternation. He was sure he just had to take a single step, yet it didn't work when he did. Shirou closed his eyes, searching for the feeling again.

A single step in the right direction.

Guided by instinct, he opened his eyes again. He didn't move this time. He just … changed perspective. Shirou looked at reality sideways, and the endless field of flowers melted away, replaced by a deep forest.

"That was … weird."

He wasn't sure how exactly he was able to do this. He could still feel the other place, the boundary still present; a single step, and he would cross over.

Ignoring it, Shirou took in his new surroundings. For a moment, he hoped he had arrived back in Fuyuki, but after a closer look, it was clear he didn't. The woods he stood in were too picturesque, for lack of a better term. Beams of light filtered through the thick canopies, hitting the ground and trunks of trees in just the right way to accentuate their beauty. The moss covering the bark traced swirly patterns as if painted by nature itself. Mushrooms and berries of every color grew between the sprawling roots of almost every tree. There were close to no dead leaves or deadwood on the forest floor. Not to mention the mana levels barely dropped.

Sighing, Shirou continued on.

This time, he didn't have to wait long before something changed. A sound of rustling leaves reached him. So far, he didn't spot any animals, the forest eerily silent bar for the sounds of wind, but evidently, something lived here.

He hoped it wasn't a giant wolf.

Shirou bent his knees slightly, preparing to dodge in any direction as he scanned his surroundings. His heartbeat picked up, and nervous energy filled him, causing his fingertips to tingle. The rustling grew closer before something jumped out of the underbrush to Shirou's left. The only reason he didn't bolt outright was that the creature that appeared was relatively small, half his size at most.

It looked like a small child with legs shaped like a rabbit and a thick lizard-like tail. Head with a human face but eyes a solid color, no iris or pupil, and two long appendages on top, like rabbit ears folded backward amidst its long hair. It was a solid blue color – skin, eyes, and hair all – with wavy patterns of a lighter shade on its stomach and along its limbs. A few dark scales adorned its hips and shoulders.

"Found ya!" It exclaimed, smiling widely at Shirou. "Who are you? I felt you leave Avalon. Are you a new fairy? You smell weird. Why do you look like a human? You feel like an elemental. A weird elemental. Did you try to take human form and fail? Hey, hey, are you listening to me?"

Dumbfounded by the barrage of questions, he could only stare at it. Shirou had no idea what this creature was, but it was definitely some sort of phantasmal creature. He shook his head, clearing his thoughts.

"Hi. Umm… by Avalon, you mean that place with flowers?"

"Of course that's Avalon, stupid."

Shirou ignored the insult, wary of the excitable creature. It peered at him curiously before jumping off the ground and somehow, without any visible wings, floated in midair, circling him. It didn't appear dangerous, more like a curious kitten. Still, from what his father told him, phantasmal species were often unpredictable and powerful. Unfortunately, Shirou's knowledge of them ended with that single fact. They were supposed to be extinct, after all. This one was a fairy, judging from its earlier words.

"Right. And you are a fairy, right?"

"Are you picking a fight!? You may be some big shot elemental, but I have my pride too, you know. I may be small, but I'm a fairy all right."

"Uh, I'm pretty sure I'm a human."

"Ha! Good one. As if a human could survive in Avalon."

"… right, can you please tell me where we are right now exactly?"

"Are you actually retarded? In Faery, stupid, Faery. Land of the fae, home of fairies, ring a bell in that empty head of yours?"

Upon hearing the answer, Shirou dearly hoped it was lying to him. He didn't know where Faery was, but knowing his luck, it was nowhere near his hometown.

"So, you felt me cross the boundary and rushed to meet me for some reason. What's your name anyway?"

"I'm Dienu, the greatest fairy there is! And I had a great reason. I was bored and close by."

"I see. I'm E- "

Shirou's eyes widened as the word died on his tongue. He could not say it. Something deep inside him rebelled as he tried to claim his father's last name, Emiya, for himself. He was sure, by the same instinctual knowledge that helped him leave Avalon, that he could say the word. Even call himself Emiya. But he couldn't claim the name for himself.

Noticing his shocked silence, the fairy floated close to his face with a wicked grin, showing off its sharp teeth.

"Oho? What is this? Did you try to lie to me? Fairies can't lie in Faery. How can you not know that? Are you genuinely a newborn? Or did someone steal your memories? Don't worry. Mommy Dienu will teach you all you need to know!"

Well, there goes his hopes. Shirou wasn't sure why the anti-lying effect extended to him, and he refused even to consider the implications Dienu painted. Still, if this place stopped him from claiming the name he was legally adopted with, then he probably shouldn't reveal his true one.

"I guess you can call me … A …vel?"

Unimpressed, Dienu leveled a flat stare at Shirou, "… really? Just call yourself Avalonman when you are at it. Your naming sense sucks! You are Red to me from now on, and that's it. Way better name than Avel, ugh."

"Fine, whatever, Blue." By now, Shirou was more annoyed by the fairy than afraid. Dienu behaved more like his guardian on a sugar rush and not like he imagined a noble magical being to act. "Do you know if there are any humans in Faery?"

"You already talk back at me! They grow up so fast. Mommy Dienu is proud of you, Red! But humans? Maybe there are some. I'm not sure. They pop in and out every now and then. Maybe those knife-eared freaks know more, but no promises there.

Shirou raised an eyebrow, "' Knife-eared freaks?"

"Ugh, don't get me started on them. Some time ago, a bunch of Sylphs, wind fairies, fell in love with humans. Freaks. They tried taking human forms and living with them, but it always ended poorly, as expected. There should be some of them in Faery."

Ignoring her rant, Shirou was relieved that Dienu readily shared helpful information. If not humans, maybe fairies that regularly meet them could help him return home.

"Can you lead me to them?"

"Fine. But only because you are interesting, Red! Last I heard, some lived near Nibelung. And if those degenerate Sylphs are not there, then maybe the dwarves there know something." She floated away, bouncing from trunk to trunk, and Shirou followed her. "Why do you want to meet humans anyway?"

"I want to visit the human world. We can skip the trip if you know how to get there." Shirou didn't feel the need to hide it.

"No clue. I was never interested."

"I see. Thanks anyway, Blue."

Shirou listened to Dienu chattering away as they moved through the beautiful woods. He learned a lot, but most of it was not that important. From where to find delicious berries or nuts, to where the best streams and ponds to soak in were. Still, there were some valuable tidbits.

They were currently in Faery, a realm of fairies in the Reverse Side of the World, a separate layer of reality where most of the phantasmal species lived. That single piece of information shattered Shirou's hopes of getting home anytime soon. Avalon was the heart of Faery, where many of the fairies were born and where Shirou first woke up, although Dienu said it was rare nowadays for newborn fairies to appear in Avalon. When he asked her why, she told him the world was drying up, whatever that meant. She said that more and more magical beings were fleeing the surface. From Shirou's knowledge, no phantasmal beasts were left in the human world, but maybe he was just uninformed. His father wasn't exactly enthusiastic about teaching him after all.

The place there were going, Nibelung, was a Dwarven dwelling, where the earth-aligned fairies 'played with fire' and hoarded their 'sparkly rocks' according to Dienu.

When the conversation turned back to Shirou, he answered her questions with vague comments, unsure how much he could reveal. Even if Dienu was likable, and with her personality, he quickly found himself drifting back into a similar dynamic he had with his guardian, Taiga, she was still a magical being. A fae. After one of his offhand answers where he mentioned humans, Dienu stopped in her tracks, her jovial attitude replaced with anger.

"Stop it, Red. You may look like a human, but you aren't one."

"And how would you know that exactly?" Shirou couldn't stop raising his voice himself. Dienu's stubborn insistence that he was a fairy got on his nerves.

"Because I have eyes, you dunce!"

"…what."

Dienu sneered, "What 'what'? Do you really think a human would mistake you for one of their own? You may cling to this human shell, but I'm sure even a child wouldn't be fooled."

"What do you mean?" Shirou asked slowly, as a sinking feeling in his stomach chilled his anger.

Instead of answering, Dienu's azure eyes flashed briefly, and a circular pane of water levitating in midair appeared before Shirou, the surface acting like a mirror.

Shirou froze when he saw his reflection. For all he could easily recognize himself, there were subtle differences that made him look … not quite human. While his skin color, as he noticed earlier, was a lot lighter, it still fell within a normal human range. Similarly, his hair didn't change much. The shade shifted from its usual ginger red to what he could only describe as 'burning' red, almost glowing in the forest shade. Still, if those two changes were all there were, people would at most assume he dyed his hair, and that's it. But not with ears and eyes like this. Shirou tugged at his now pointy ear, almost twice as long as he remembered it. It didn't feel different. The last change was his eyes. Sometimes, people called his eyes golden, but he always considered them light brown. Now, they indeed were like molten gold and glowing slightly. Shirou leaned closer to the mirror, and yes, his pupils indeed were elongated, not exactly like a cat but not human either. The overall effect made him look distinctly supernatural, ethereal, like a … fairy.

"Shocked? Not what you expected?" Dienu floated to Shirou's side, gloating after seeing his shocked expression.

Shirou ignored her, a maelstrom of emotions swirling through his mind as he stared at his reflection.

"Admit it, Red."

"…"

"You may pretend to be human, but that's not what you are."

"… shut up."

"You are a fae, Red. An elemental, maybe, but not a human."

"SHUT UP!"

Shirou shouted at the annoyingly cheerful fairy, punching at her, but the blue pest easily avoided the blow, twirling around his arm.

"Then say it! Say that you are a fairy, not a human!" Dienu once again quickly changed moods, shouting in anger.

"Why do you care, Blue!? Why are you so insistent on that!?"

"Because you are not a human! So don't claim to be one. I don't care if you act like one or look like one. Pretend to be one, whatever. But don't claim to be a human. To be something you are not."

Shirou glared at the raving fairy. One moment she is joyful, and the next, she is spitting mad. Furious about the stupidest of things. He wanted to scream and lash out. Because deep down, he dreaded she was right. That somehow, he stopped being human.

After the great fire, where he lost his memory, he felt similar. Back then, he was so empty that he felt nothing over the loss. Over the years, his father, Kiritsugu, and later Taiga, helped him regain himself, his emotions. But deep down, he knew he was still broken, just acting.

With an irritated sigh, Shirou sat down cross-legged and ignored Blue, the angry fairy flying in circles above his head. He focused his thoughts, clearing his mind, a skill every magus learned. Anger and fear slowly drained out of him as he centered himself. He couldn't lie here, and according to Dienu, humans couldn't survive in Avalon, yet he did so without issue. Then there was his inexplicable healing. His clothes were damaged, so his experiences in the forests of Fuyuki weren't a hallucination. Yet, Shirou couldn't connect the pieces of evidence he had. He had no idea how dying in his hometown resulted in appearing in Avalon as a Fairy. But did it really matter that much? Despite the change in appearance and his weird new instincts, he was still himself. The fire didn't change that. Being a fairy also won't, he vowed to himself.

Shirou nodded to himself. Fairy or human, he was still Shirou, a boy Kiritsugu saved and adopted.

"Fine. I'm a fairy. There, happy?" He threw a glare at Dienu. The fact he could say it confirmed that he was indeed a fae now, as far as he understood it.

"Yes!"

"But I was born a human." Shirou continued, the truth easily leaving his lips, and with them, a great weight lifted off his shoulders.

"See? Wasn't that hard … huh?" Dienu froze mid-cheer, her head tilted in confusion. "That's … that's possible?"

Shirou sighed, "As if I would know. You are a fairy, you tell me. All I know is that I was one hundred percent human before waking up in Avalon, apparently as a fairy."

"But that doesn't make any sense!"

"Yeah, that's exactly how I feel."

Shirou renewed his journey, prompting Dienu to guide him. In an amusing twist, the agitated fairy, now more concerned than him, kept asking him questions, still coming to grips with his situation. Shirou didn't mind. Now that he had come to terms with his condition – and it was easier than he imagined – he was much calmer about the whole thing. He would still search for a way to return home and turn back into a human if possible, but it wasn't as crushing as before.

"But you even smell like a fairy, Red, like an elemental."

"You mentioned that before. What is an elemental? Some type of fairy?"

"Yes, a powerful one, capable of bending nature to their will. One thought and the air around you would turn into stone, lava, water, or whatever. It depends on what kind of elemental it is. They are scary like that. Most also take human forms, don't ask me why."

"Is that why you think I'm one? Because I look like a human?"

"A little. But mostly, you just smell like one. But more … contained?"

"I would say I understand, but that would be a lie. By smell, you mean … hmm … you smell like boiling water, Blue. Is that how fairies smell?"

"No, silly, that's just me. I'm technically an Undine, a water fairy. But those terms don't mean that much. I'm an Undine, but you could also consider me a part Salamander, a fire fairy. Each fae is unique, but we call ourselves such for simplicity's sake. Just don't fall into a habit of judging fairies by those terms. It's considered rude. A fairy smell like, umm, you should just know how a fairy smell. I don't know how to describe it, Red."

"Don't worry, Blue, it's not that important. I will try again when we reach Nibelung."

"But it is! How can I call myself Mommy Dienu if I can't teach you the most basic things!"

Ignoring 'Mommy Dienu's' ramblings, Shirou continued his journey. By now, they had covered a considerable distance, but the forest didn't change much. The mana levels continued to drop as they left Avalon behind, but they were still high. For a time, they traveled along a wide river, the cool air from the rushing water a pleasant difference after hiking for hours through the dry forest. The nature of Faery also exaggerated its beauty. Each swirl in the current splashed forth a spray of water, the sunlight casting out a myriad of rainbows along the river length. It created a dazzling effect as the colors danced on the river's surface. Far between the trees, fairies of many colors occasionally appeared for a few seconds before disappearing again, but none approached.

Finally, they arrived at what must've been Nibelung. The thick foliage opened up to much sparser vegetation – towering trees and hard-packed earth trails amidst low grass. The trees were odd, with bulbous trunks close to the ground and thin higher up, ending in wide canopies, a tall mountain visible through the leaves. On a closer look, the trees were, in fact, wooden huts, only instead of built, the plants themselves seemed to grow in that shape, with hollow interiors and openings as doors and windows. There were tens of fairies in the glade, of every shape and color, but the majority looked like humans, just with some inhuman trait. They were even wearing clothes, simple shirts, trousers, and skirts, unlike the other more animalistic fairies. The most common type had very long ears and occasionally insect-like wings.

"Welcome to Nibelung, Red."

"It's … not what I expected."

"Oho? And why is that? You thought it would be some grand human city? As if! Even this much structure is unusual. Most fairies live in the wild. It's those Sylphs freaks that built this. Well, and the dwarves, I guess. But mostly Sylphs!"

Shirou watched the village for a moment. The human-like fairies, Sylphs, he assumed, mainly were clustered around their huts, sitting in the shade and busying themselves with various crafts. Other fairies loitered seemingly aimlessly, sometimes stopping to stare at Sylphs or just playing around—the soft clamor and noise of conversations made for a strangely mundane atmosphere.

Shirou noticed Dienu staring at him from the side.

"What?" He asked.

"Do you smell it now?"

After recalling what she was talking about, Shirou focused on his magic sense, inhaling deeply. The myriad of beings blended together, yet he could still pinpoint almost every individual signature. Most were unsurprisingly related to wind and air, as Sylphs made for most of the fairies present. But he tried to focus on the common factor. It was subtle, but Shirou managed to pinpoint something after a while. A metallic odor, yet not. It shifted and changed, but his senses categorized it as the same trace.

"Fairies smell of … gold?" He asked Dienu hesitantly.

"Maybe? If that's what you perceive it as, then it is, Red. To me, fairies smell of fairies, and that's it."

Shirou could only level a flat stare at that unhelpful comment.

"Whatever. Can we go ask them now?"

She sighed, "If we must," and floated towards one of the hut trees.

Shirou followed after her, receiving curious glances from passing fairies. They approached an older woman with a young child, both busy sewing together brown pieces of cloth.

Dienu didn't waste time on pleasantries.

"Hey, you!"

Surprised, the two Sylphs raised their heads.

"Yes?" Asked the older one.

"Do you know how to get to the human world?"

The woman hesitated at the unexpected question, glancing between Shirou and Dienu. From her side, the younger one peered at Shirou, fascinated.

"Umm … I'm not sure. I never visited. I heard from the others about a lake and several trees that are a gateway. Other than that, Faeryway ring, maybe. Although those are really random."

"Hey, are you a human, mister?" The younger fairy asked Shirou.

Before Shirou could answer and inquire more about what the Faeryway was, Dienu snapped harshly at the fae child.

"What is it to you, child of whores?"

"Blue!"

"What?" Dienu asked, annoyed.

Shirou dragged Dienu out of earshot before confronting the diminutive fairy.

"You don't have to insult them."

"But I can. I don't like them. You know that, Red." Dienu said blandly.

Frustrated, Shirou could only grit his teeth. He knew she didn't like those Sylphs, and he knew she wasn't shy at speaking her mind. But after she guided him all this way and taught him when he asked, all without asking for anything in return, to see her act so hostile when he finally had a chance to learn how to reach the human world was aggravating.

Shirou sighed, massaging his brow. Dienu already told him that fairies acted on their desires without reservation or care for others. And while Dienu raged and fumed easily, it always passed quickly. He got used to the kind and helpful, if somewhat mischievous, fairy on their travel.

"Wait here, please. I will talk to them alone."

"Fine, chat with the freaks. I will ask the dwarves. Find me in the mountain when you are done."

Shirou watched her fly away into the distance before sighing again and returning to the two Sylphs.

"I'm sorry about her. Ah, I didn't introduce myself. I'm called Avel."

Thankfully, the mother and her daughter didn't seem to mind Dienu's insult. The older Sylph put away her needle and fabric and gave Shirou a gentle smile.

"It's fine. Some just are like that. I'm Falge, and this is my daughter Tile."

"Hi!" Erelana greeted Shirou with a wide smile.

Shirou couldn't help but return the smile. The energetic fairy seemed to radiate good cheer. Shirou wasn't sure how fairies aged, but the girl appeared to be around half his age. Six or seven at most. If not for her ears and small insectoid wings, she wouldn't look out of place in some European country with her long blond hair and blue eyes.

"Do you know where that lake is?" He asked the mother.

"Sorry, I don't. As I said earlier, I never actually visited the human world. Not every Aelf did."

"Aelf?"

"That's what humans call us. We don't actually live with them that often. From what others told me, some end up in our villages by accident—some stay. But most can't even see us properly. It's only at full moon or at significant sites of power that humans can interact with us. We are still mostly fae, after all."

Shirou listened for a bit longer, but Falge didn't know where he could find those gateways or who would know more. She lived most of her life in Nibelung. He thanked her anyway and walked away.

"Hey, hey, mister Avel, are you an elemental?" Tile called out after him, wonder on her face.

Shirou smiled. That question must've been eating at her all this time. She had been staring at him since Dienu left.

"No, I just smell like one."

"Oh."

Disappointed at the answer, she returned to her sewing.

Shirou wandered through the village, from Sylph to Sylph, asking the same question. Unfortunately, he didn't learn much more. While each fairy had a little different tale, they all boiled down to the same points. Gateways and Faeryways. Yet, none knew where exactly he could find any. It turns out Nibelung was a remote place, far away from other fairy settlements. The only reason so many Sylphs and Dwarves lived here was that the Great Father, a very powerful type of fairy, made its dwelling here, deep in the mountain Dienu left for. It granted stability and protection to the local area with its presence alone.

After hours of questioning and chatting with residents of Nibelung, Shirou headed toward the mountain.

During his time in Nibelung, he met many fairies, but it seemed like no two were alike besides the Aelfs. Some had animal parts, like heads, tails, or wings, while others possessed entire animal bodies. He talked with werewolves and wolves, birds and birdmen. Some had forms unlike any animal Shirou knew of, similar to Dienu. Yet most looked at least in part humanoid. Many wore clothes, but more as a decoration than to protect themselves from the elements. None remarked on Shirou's tattered appearance, he noticed.

When he reached the foot of the mountain, he stopped to admire it. It was incredibly tall. The clouds not even reaching halfway to the top. A winding stone path led to a cave opening far in the distance. Yet, it didn't take him that long to reach the gate. And it was a gate, and not what looked from afar, a cave—a set of giant doors, five times his height, wide open inwards. The tunnel led deep into the mountain, the light of the torches hanging from the walls illuminating the way but leaving the distant ceiling shrouded in shadows. As Shirou walked deeper, the air grew warmer until a hot breeze blew from the mountain depths, bringing a scent of burning metal and rock.

The tunnel ended with a large circular cavern, with a waterfall of lava cascading down the far wall before disappearing again into an opening in the floor. The rest of the walls were lined with smaller corridor openings. Not sure where Dienu was, Shirou picked one of the shafts that gave him a strange feeling, hoping that it was Dienu, and proceeded further.

It led him to what must've been an armory. Hundreds of weapons and armor lined the vast room's walls, placed on shelves carved from the mountain rock. Each was a piece of art. Gleaming with precious jewels and metals. Some gold and ornamental, others savage and huge, but each a work of a master. Fascinated, Shirou gently approached one of the beautiful swords resting against the wall.

It was a straight blade, long as he was tall and wide as his palm. The cross-shaped handle was made of gold and some purple metal Shirou couldn't recognize, adorned with green jewels. A string of runes engraved on the blade spelled its name, Midjinior.

Shirou traced the strange runes with his finger.

Feeling the cold surface of the sword, Shirou decided to use his magecraft, curious about what the purple metal was.

He concentrated and tried to create his magic circuit only to discover it was already active and far more powerful than he was used to. Dismissing it for now, Shirou focused on performing his single mastered magecraft, Structural Grasping. He sent a pulse of prana through the weapon and used the feedback to learn everything about it. It's composition, how it was created, who wielded it. A torrent of information that should overwhelm a normal person, yet he could still easily comprehend everything.

Shirou learned what the metal was – orichalcum, only found in Faery; he learned of the dwarf who forged it – Bihev, and how; and that nobody ever wielded the sword.

When his spell ran its course, the knowledge settled deep inside Shirou, available at a moment's notice. To this day, he wasn't sure why it sometimes happened and other times not.

Shirou was admiring the weapon when he felt Dienu approaching. Not long after, the small fairy shot out of the tunnel and barreled straight into Shirou's stomach, almost bowling him over.

"Red! Red! What did you do!?" Dienu shouted, shaking him.

"What are you talking about?" He asked, confused.

"Bihev is furious. At you! How did you anger him? You didn't even meet him yet!"

Shirou wasn't sure how to respond. He just walked through the mountain and used his magecraft once, that's all. Yet, the name Dienu mentioned was the same as the dwarf that forged Midjinior.

A sinking feeling settled in his stomach when he heard thunderous footsteps.

From the entrance to the armory, a hulking figure emerged. A giant of a man with a long, thick beard and wide frame, four times Shirou's size. When Dienu told him about dwarves, he imagined a short human, not the opposite.

His red eyes flashed as he spotted Shirou.

"Thief!" He bellowed.

Shirou couldn't even react before the dwarf was on him, grabbing Shirou by the shoulders and lifting him to his face.

"You thought I wouldn't notice? Ha! Nobody steals from the great Bihev."

"Wait, Bihev, wait! This is the one I was talking about." Dienu tugged at the dwarf arm uselessly, not budging the giant in the slightest.

"Hmm? This is that, Avel? Why did you invite a thief into my home, Dienu?"

"I-I'm not a thief." Shirou protested weakly before Dienu could respond.

"Silence, thief! Do you think I can't see my sword hidden inside you? Bold of you to already claim what is mine to my face."

"Bihev, please, this must be a misunderstanding. Red wouldn't steal from you. He just wants to go to the human world. I'm sure he will return what he probably mistakenly borrowed, right Red?" Dienu pleaded, giving Shirou a pointed look.

Through all that, Shirou frantically looked for a way out. He would gladly return the sword he supposedly stole. The only problem was that he didn't have the weapon. His magecraft didn't copy anything. It just gave him information. Hell, Shirou would even happily forget it if he could, but his head didn't exactly work like that.

Taking Shirou's silence as an admission of guilt, Bihev snorted and produced a large red gem out of nowhere.

"So be it, little thief. Out of my friendship with Dienu, I won't kill you. But I will not just let you go free, either. The human world? Ha! Forget it. You will stay here until you can give me my weapon back. But first," Bihev touched Shirou's forehead with the fist-sized gem, "Let's make sure you can't steal from me again."

Something flowed from Shirou into the red jewel. He wasn't sure what, but besides a vague sense of loss accompanied by the memories of the Bihev's sword he Structurally Grasped fading somewhat. After it was done, the dwarf dropped Shirou and left without a word.

Dienu and Shirou watched Bihev back in silence. When the sound of his footsteps disappeared, Dienu turned on Shirou, hands on her hips.

"Damn it, Red, you are impossible. And I was so close to convincing him to help you!"

Shirou sighed. At least the giant fairy didn't hurt him.

"Sorry, I guess. Blue, how am I supposed to give him his sword back? I mean, it's right there," Shirou pointed at the sword he analyzed, still in the same place he found it, "All I have 'inside me' is information from using my magecraft on it."

Dienu looked at the weapon skeptically, "I doubt he wants you to grab it and give it to him. Knowing him, he wants you to forge an identical blade. That's what you get for stealing from a Great Father, Red."

Shirou looked at Dienu helplessly. If he genuinely had to forge a weapon of that quality, he would be unable to leave this mountain for a very long time.


AN

A short word on worldbuilding.

While I will be using some ideas from the Avalon le Fae lostbelt, it won't be a copy of that. From my understanding, that world diverged so early and changed so much that it has little in common with fairies from proper human history.

But.

There isn't all that much info on fairies of the proper human history either. And what there is, is at best inconclusive or contradictory.

So, consider this story a heavy AU. I don't want to boggle myself down by researching every little detail and then figuring out what belongs strictly to lostbelt fairies and what not.

A lot of worldbuilding will be my own ideas and imagination on how fae themselves work and the larger Nasuverse. I try to research as I write, but there's a lot to go through. If I miss some details or fudge things, well, I'm only human.