Cursed Sword

by Kneenaw

Irisviel could not accept her own end, even corrupted she wishes to return to save her beloved. And so, as Shirou sits waiting to die, he is reborn as the host of a dark miracle, creating cascading effects that would alter the world. This fic spans from the end of the 4th HGW to the 5th. Currently it is starting the direct lead up to the 5th war.

41. Act Three: Den of Snakes

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Act Three: Den of Snakes

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Into the Sunlight (Music) /xb3UmzOqios

"...Do you like blond hair, Senpai?" Those words, laced with a certain degree of hidden envy, were the first thing I heard when I stepped out of my small dorm room to do morning chores. I was still a bit sleepy, so it didn't fully register at first. I nearly walked into her.

"Sakura...?"

"...Do you like blond hair, Senpai?" She reiterated again. This time it was more clear as she blocked the way forwards with her body. She wasn't going to let me go until I answered the strange question.

"Um... Huh?" The question finally registered to me, but I still couldn't do anything but stare blankly at her.

"Answer the question, Senpai. Do you like blond hair, Senpai?"

"Well... Sure I do, but-" She interrupts me with a nod. She is biting her lip.

"Then how about I dye my hair? You don't like my hair, do you? You prefer blondes, is that it?" Like a snake activating its venom, her words became laced with destructive power. In this case, it was more like self-destructive, malicious power.

I take her shoulder with one hand. "You didn't allow me to finish my point. I was going to say that I like your violet hair as much, if not more. I really like your hair as it is; haven't I told you that before?"

"...Really? ...Are you sure?"

"I'm sure. ...I don't want you to change. You don't have to do that anymore; I like you for who you are. Besides, my first words to you were that I thought you had beautiful hair. ...Err, do you want to change your hair...?"

"No... but if that were what you preferred, then I would have had to have done it..." She still has issues making rash decisions based on what she thinks I want. Her rehabilitation was always going to be a very long process. "Nee-san said that you and that blood woman... were seeing each other all this time in secret... is it true?"

"Seeing her? That is not how I would phrase it. She was my pen pal and a friend. She helped me learn a lot of things. It wasn't so much a secret; I did tell I had a pen pal who helped me learn English, didn't I?"

"Y-you might have, but that's still..." She was pulling on her sleeves enough to let her familiar violet envy shine through. "She is like Nee-san... I can't compete against her. I just..." She doesn't know what to do. Sakura may have made a few friends due to my pushing, but a magus is a different thing entirely. There was a reason Sakura did not originally plan to come with Tohsaka and me here, and this is it. Sakura is fundamentally incompatible with the idea of being a magus.

Even if Irisviel helped her to remove the physical limits placed on her by the Matou family, the only one who can remove the limits on Sakura is Sakura herself.

"There are things you are better at than both of them combined, I'm sure of it."

"...Like what?" Now she is just fishing for praise, but I can't give them to her so easily.

"That's for you to realize. ...Well, it's time for me to get to work. It was good to see-" I turn and make to walk away, and my sleeve is pulled back by a trembling little hand. Just as I thought.

"..." She says nothing, but she makes it clear she does not want me to go.

I look back at Sakura, who is looking down. I can't look at her face under her hair. It seemed that my instinct was right that there was much more to her coming to my room than simply asking me strange questions.

"I... I don't want Senpai to go right now... I need to..." Her desires are so strong they are like a curse. They probably literally are, now that I think about it. ...If whatever she is feeling is bad enough to push her to this point, then there is no helping it. It's a curse that goes far beyond simple loneliness.

When it gets to this point, there is usually only a single solution to save her, but I don't know if that is necessary just yet. I can still try some words. "What is it that you really want? What is this really about?"

"I..." What she said was almost surprising. As if the physical dimension of this didn't matter and that the only one who she would accept as helping her in this would be me. "...I want... you..."

"To do?"

"No... I-I want you."

"...Oh."

The infliction she was dealing with at the moment was the one she had always been dealing with. Her magecraft and the circumstances as being connected to the Holy Grail mean she has an exceptional connection to the world of spirits. Imaginary Numbers, or in other words Hollow. Sakura's Origin was such a thing, essentially giving her the power over that 'which is possible but not in the physical plane.' That hollowness was inscribed into her very being, making her a great magus in that one field, but power always comes with a price. Especially when it has become so deeply fused into her body.

Irisviel may have changed her for the better by healing her of the poisons that Matou placed in her, but that only made this issue even worse. Mother made her an even stronger conduit for spiritual energy. Now Sakura's magical energy fluctuates from too low to too high, and it leads to moments where it is like she is running out of air. It is this moment where she is most vulnerable to exposing the things she doesn't usually show. Strange questions are thus a good first sign.

These moments could come without any notice, or they could be brought on by some kind of growing anxiety. For some reason, it also only seemed to be a real issue when I was alone and nearby. I was with her for not even a few minutes before she started looking at me with hazy hungry eyes. Her breath was heavy as if desperate for something she knew she must not ask for. Begging for it simply in her movements, she was twitching.

"Senpai..."

"S-Sakura..."

Curses may flow through me like water, but that does not mean I was immune to the Great Magecraft that she must have cast on me. For I was never able to say no to the swaying of her hair or her delicate wet lips. Her body would sway like a shadow and drift ever closer to me, unconsciously seeking out what it needed. It's like being slowly entrapped by a feverish prison of lust.

My muscles and brain stop working logically.

"...!" She does what I can only call a predatory pounce to push me back into my room.

As soon as I let her push me back into my room, it is already too late to back out of this.

My mind of steel ends where her lips began.

"Ah..."

Her lips take mine passionately. She starts hesitantly, as if ashamed of showing her true self to me, yet when I don't say no, she keeps pushing on. Ravenous kisses and even love bites attack my neck, lips, and face. The snake finally finds prey to feed on after so long without anything to eat. She squeezes me hard, but I don't mind. She becomes limp in my arms as she falls into me as she forgets how to do anything but throw herself at me. I am forced to hold and look after her as I fall back into my bed before she hurts herself.

Low magical energy is like being low on oxygen. The human body and mind become a tool for the single purpose of replenishing that precious resource once it gets to that point. She swallows my saliva as if it is the tastiest thing in the world and holds onto me for dear life. But it only goes as far as kissing and hugging. This is definitely hardcore making out, but it is not sex.

Sex is a boundary that we do not cross for a simple reason. It is a reason so unavoidable that even in our shared madness, neither of us goes too far. No... it is precisely because we are both mad that we can't go too far.

Kill her. Ravage her. Tear her apart. Possess her. Degrade her.

The impulses inside of me are dark. I can feel that is the same for her. I would rip her apart, and she wouldn't even stop me. No, she would scream out for me to ravage her to the very end. Her desires are as muddy as my own can be, if not more. She would celebrate me destroying her if only for the pleasure of that ultimate taboo. It's not something that can even be tempted.

I can't do that to her. I would rather die than inflict that pain on her. If the day comes when I see her as no more than someone I will use like trash, then that is the day I deserve to die. ...But, if the day does come when she is my equal who can stand up to me no matter what monster I become, then... Maybe. Maybe the day will come when I can let her show the true depths of her passion.

For now, kissing is more than enough. This scene resembles more a vicious murder than a romantic tryst. Her mouth is no delicate thing too shy to take what it wants. Once she knows I won't be stopping her, she forgets herself and starts licking and deeply sucking on everything from my cheeks down to my neck. I know that there will be more than a few marks by the time this is done. Somehow I feel she is putting down those marks on purpose.

She swallows everything she can take from me. Saliva and even blood mix in her mouth as she swallows.

I'm not afraid. I'm used to being the prey of monsters. I feel lightheaded. It was like she was trying to make sure I couldn't breathe by the way she wrapped arround me tightly and then stole my lips over and over. It's like being dehydrated.

If you are thirsty, then drink her blood~

No.

I seize Sakura firmly yet with care. "...!" Her haze ends, and she looks at me, almost confused. Her prey suddenly stopped her after all. But then — I push her down and kiss her from above, taking control.

"Show me, Sakura. Don't hold back. I can take it."

Yes... give in. Don't worry about her; she can take it. Just devour her~

No.

You say no, but what are you doing then? One more push; she wouldn't say no to anything~

You're wrong. This isn't me losing control. This is me taking responsibility.

It takes my entire will to do this, but I reject that curse that would hurt her for cheap pleasure. I treat her like a gentle flower. I focus on her beauty, and I treasure everything that she is and will be. I will see only that person below me. We obsess over purity, and we shame those we deem to have lost it. I don't care. I don't care what they say or even what you say, Sakura. To me, the most beautiful flower is the one that lives even when it has been smeared by blood.

Even if she is scraping my back with her nails, even if she screams out for more, even if she bites me as if to challenge me, and even if her eyes cry out to break all boundaries and taboos in exchange for a moment of ecstasy, I don't budge. I just hold her gently. The desires she keeps hidden in her dreams are drawn out. In fact, she may be so out of it by this point that she thinks this is no more than a delusion. She tries to move and take control of me, but I don't let her. She tries to degrade herself and throw her body for the purpose of pleasuring me, but I don't let her. She even tries to take hold of my manhood, but I don't let her.

"Ah! I want... I want more I always just want more and more...!" Like eating sweet candy, she indulges in me without remorse.

I imagine that this is what a curse of lust must be like. A curse that solidifies over one's very soul and grows until one becomes desperate for pleasure in order to gain a short reprieve. Tohsaka did help out and teach Sakura how to manage so she could endure it without losing control like this in her daily life, but certain triggers could force her beyond the point where she could handle it herself. Naturally, she comes to me when those times come, and I take care of her like this.

About twenty or so minutes later, her onslaught ends in exhaustion. She limply stops and rests beside me. Now I am holding her, lying in my bed. Even I feel tired, yet satisfied after such an intense session of what can only be called intense making out.

"...Do you feel better, Sakura?"

"Yeah... I feel great... so much better now that Senpai is here..." She says dreamily. Even tired, she is draped over me and exuding a strong sense of satisfaction. She must have taken enough magical energy to now feel almost high off of it.

"That being said, I really do have chores to do, Sakura... So maybe you could stop holding me so tightly?"

"Hmm... Why? Maybe I need to use Binding magic on you if you are going to be like that..." She says like a child. She never acted her age, and she never dared ask for anything selfish. She only becomes like this when is in a moment of bliss where she can forget reality. That is why I can't really deny her if she wants to be like this. This is one of my absolute weaknesses. But as soon as her mind returns and she starts realizing what she just did, she feels a wave of remorse and anxiety. "What...? What did I just...? I-I am so sorry, Senpai...! I forced myself onto you. You do need to work... and so do I... I'm so hideous, I know... I can't believe I forced you to do it again..."

Once the high from the magical energy evens out, naturally, the fall comes even harder. "That's not the case at all, Sakura. You are not ugly, or dirty for feeling this way. There is an explanation for it, so there is no helping it. Of course, I will help you. ...Even if you weren't feeling this way, I would still give you whatever you need." Now I was the one keeping her in a sudden reversal. I place her head on my lap. Usually, it's the girl with the guy in her lap, but I figure I can be this corny once in a while.

"Senpai... You... you are wrong about me. The girl who lost control... the girl who killed like it was nothing and basked in it... That's..."

"A part of you, but a separate one. A part that still holds some sway when you start to lose self-control. Tell me, what was the trigger for this? You've been working far too hard to simply let yourself fall to this point." Sakura has come a long way. She and Tohsaka have put much effort into strengthening Sakura's mind and magical control to prevent her from giving in to her Inversion Impulse.

"...You... know about that? No- Of course you would be able to see through me easily." She seems almost happy, though, when she says that.

"Of course, I know. I'm the one who is in control of your punishment, so I can't let you get the upper hand over me too easily. ...So tell me, what was it? It wasn't Luvia, was it? She's just a friend, Sakura. If I weren't insistent on it, then she probably wouldn't even think of me as such. I don't think that she is the type to scheme or deceive. She is like Tohsaka, after all. She is too prideful to be anything but direct."

"...But Irisviel said... I should look out for a blood European. She definitely said that you can't trust someone like that!" That was a partial lie by Sakura, but it didn't have any ill will in it. She was just worried about something. Irisviel knew about Luvia, but I don't think that she really told Sakura that she was such a danger. It's just that Mother was someone who enjoyed planting the seeds for chaos. Things that tend to end up coming back to bite me, almost literally, in the case of Arcueid.

"Haha. Irisviel's words should be taken with a grain of salt."

"Yes... Miss Luvia does not seem to be a bad person. She is like Nee-san... the sort of person who is unstoppable. I know I'm not allowed to stress about it, but..." There was something more to it than that.

"That's not what is worrying, is it? Tell me." I say seriously.

"...It was yesterday when Nee-san left me to find all of her luggage. After you left us at the airport..."

"Yeah. Sorry about that... She shouldn't have left you too. I'm going to tell her off."

"No...! S-she was right. ...I was happy that... she trusted me. So don't be mad at her." Sakura defends her sister. I am forced to back down."But... listen, Senpai. It's not that... It just happened to be at the same time that I, well, met someone. I know it's stupid, but it was one of Miss Luvia's servants..."

"A servant of Luvia's? I had no idea. Hmm, but that doesn't seem like something you would be worried about, does it?"

"N-no... It's just that... well... That girl, she wasn't any older than me, but there was just some... familiarity." Sakura lost her words; she didn't seem to know what to say. She was hesitant about telling me about something. "It was just a feeling. ...Just a bad feeling."

"A really bad feeling? A feeling like the whole sky is about to fall on you, and there is nothing you can do?"

"...Yes."

"I see. That would be dread, then. I can see its mark on you."

"You can... see it?"

"Yes. You know that I have Mystic Eyes, Sakura. In fact, you were spying on me all the way back when they first started awakening. You don't have to pretend like you know less than you really do. Let me at least make use of them to help you here. I'm going to help you whether you like it or not. Do you consent?"

"Um, yes." She is forced to agree.

"Now... look into my eyes, and let go."

"What... what do you see? Are you in pain?"

"I see your soul. It just takes... a little effort."

"You... do? I... am sorry it's so ugly." She says such a thing.

"Haha... A soul is a beautiful thing, Sakura. No matter how you feel about yourself, it is very difficult for it to be influenced in any way. As long as you don't let it be stretched too thin." I laugh despite the immense concentration and pain that this takes to pull off. "...It's cute."

"C-cute!?" She blushes deep red despite the fact we were making out just ten minutes ago. That's just how our relationship is, though.

Past the love, envy, resolve, regret, desperation, and obsession that are native to Sakura's violet soul, there is something wrong. A small tiny imperfection, not so different from a virus. A red hatred that should not be there.

A tiny smouldering flame, like the fragment of a corpse that attached to her for a small time. A black conflagration.

Everyone was crying out, begging for anyone to save them. Why. Why. Why. Why. Why would it be here? No one but me lived. There is just... me now. So why do I see it here? Why do I feel that familiar feeling of a burning death? It shouldn't be here.

It's like a message that only I would understand. It's the trace of something like a curse, but any magic that reaches the soul is something beyond what nearly any modern magus could accomplish...

...This is far from normal. The number of living magi who have any ability to reliably affect the soul can be counted on one hand, and that list includes me. Cutting out those who have any ability in curses, and suddenly the list is down only to two. Myself and Irisviel. ...But Mother's hatred was coloured a deep black like ichor.

"Then...?" Was it me? I did this to her? Have I lost such control of myself that I would inflict a curse like this unconsciously on her very soul? ...The thought of that is terrible, but there has to be more to this. I can't accept that I would hurt her, even if unconsciously. Who could it be if not me? I alone survived.

After a few more moments, I tell her to close her eyes, and I rub my head as I feel the feedback of a major headache come on from pushing my eyes.

I must have been making a hard face for the shake Sakura suddenly gave me to break me out of these bad thoughts. I'm in London, and yet I can't stop remembering that red day. "Did you... go blind? You didn't hurt yourself, did you? Don't hurt yourself for my sake... I'll... be mad!" She says resolutely.

"No... I'm not blind. And it is definitely worth it, even if that is what it would take. Also, It's not my eyes that go blind. It's my brain rejecting information that it's not designed to process. That's why... over time, I don't lose my sight as much as I once did. Well, you likely already know that, Sakura. You are much better with magic than I am, even if you pretend you aren't." She feels no pride in that knowledge, though. It could be said that Sakura is a magic user of a different kind.

"Well... yes. But I don't know much about Mystic Eyes other than what Irisviel told me. ...But I do know the rule, the stronger a Mystery is, the greater it will bind to the person who uses it. That goes even more for Mystic Eyes, as they are the foremost sense of a human." A sense is impossible to just ignore.

"Hah. ...Yes. It's not something you can run away from."

"So... what is it that you saw?" Sakura is forced to ask after I start to think about anything but what I saw in her.

"...You made the acquaintance of something foul. It's not your fault that you would react poorly to it. You saw a nightmare, didn't you? ...And I didn't even do anything for you..." I bit my lip in hate for myself. No wonder she was completely out of energy this morning. She was having one of those 'dreams.' The same type which once caused her to wake Taiga and me up in the night as she was screaming out in pain while she slept a wakeless sleep. I only did anything for you back then by stealing the curse of that nightmare from her, but curses are always accumulating. "Damn it... I didn't even see if you were hurt; I'm the one who is pathetic here."

These rare dreams bring about night terrors in her, and last time she lost all unconscious control of her magic.

"No, Senpai, it's not a big deal! Nee-san taught me how to handle it on my own, and Irisviel did teach me how to protect myself from losing control while I sleep. I didn't hurt myself or damage anything... but..."

"But even if you don't lose control of yourself in your dreams, that doesn't change the fact that you are seeing something horrible." Mother told me that Sakura could see something akin to the future in her dreams. ...It was just that it happened to only be futures that fulfilled Sakura's worst nightmares.

"...Yes." Something so bad that she wouldn't be able to keep it buried inside. So she came to me desperate for whatever satisfaction I could give her.

"...And could I ask what that dream was? Was it the same one from back then?"

"No... This wasn't loneliness. I wasn't forced to live alone in this dream... There was hatred..."

"Hatred?"

"It was all my fault before, but here... Everything was red, and there was a great fire. ...And I could feel it..."

"What?"

"A wish. A wish... to just see everything burn. It was a deep contempt. And so much fear... As if it wanted to grant all my worst wishes. Everything that I love would burn, and I couldn't do anything about it." Her words bring out my own vision of that past red world. Yet she thinks she sees the future. "Senpai? What do I do?"

I hold her trembling body easily in my arms. She is like a doll, so light and lax as if giving me full control of her. "I can't pull your strings for you, Sakura. ...But I can make sure that even if you do face the failure, you so fear, you can get back on your feet. Do you want that power, even knowing you can't just run away from the conflict?"

"I... do. I am such a coward; I don't want to fight... but I have to... I promised I wouldn't just let you be alone. I won't allow it." She is so afraid that she is trembling. Yet her resolve is there as well, and she swears that she will do this even if it hurts.

"...Courage is doing what you fear most. I'd say you are far braver than me in that regard."

"What...? No way! You are practically the bravest... best man I know. No- even if I knew every one, you would still be the best."

"You don't have to say that, Sakura. Hmm, if you still think I am nice, then I need to be cruel for a little while. ...Maybe it's time that I start making you as powerful of a magus as Tohsaka."

"What... No. I don't... It is impossible."

"Yet you are going to try regardless. Now rest. I curse you to have a dreamless, peaceful sleep." I tuck her into my bed.

She holds my hand tight without any more words until, eventually, the power leaves her body, and she sleeps. With one last pat on her head, I stand up over her and think of what to do about this troublesome little sister of mine.

I look down at the girl I know too well. It is too well of an understanding because I lose track of simple things that everyone else can see easily. In return, I know things about her that no one else will ever know. She is no child, but she is still so young. She gave up on trying to live long ago, but now I force her day by day to face standards that even the best of ordinary people could be expected to keep.

After that, I managed to escape Sakura's tight hold, and I made breakfast for Tohsaka and Luvia. Both of them seemed to be still out of it, considering it was early morning. ...Somehow, I was not surprised to find that Luvia shared Tohsaka's trait of not being good with mornings. Though I am unsure if my food made it to Luvia since there was some butler, and he seemed to be mad at me for making something that could be considered the food of a 'commoner'. ...It will require a bit more effort to get her to have my food. But I want her to have a real meal with me rather than just the food I make.

It was then that I was once more reminded that she was a full-on noble. ...It made me miss Illya. Maybe the reason why Luvia doesn't bother me much is that I am used to her behaviour, and I affiliate with someone I love rather than looking at her the same way that Tohsaka does. After everything was done, I said goodbye to Tohsaka and told her about what Sakura said, but she still seemed annoyed with me due to yesterday, so she just told me to leave her to deal with Sakura.

"Huh?" Just before I was ready to leave, I saw something below the door to my dorm room. I swear it wasn't there before. It is a letter with a floral pattern all over it. Opening, I have a certain premonition. Darkness is promised here. My fingers hesitate. The voices don't just speak without meaning.

Make a vow you know will be betrayed~

The letter is...

Let go of everything for the chance to save something~

...It is a promise of a calamity. I open it biting my lips. I'm sorry, Sakura... I can't stop it; it can't be helped. I need to answer, even if it baiting me forwards.

I know what the contents should be before I see them. 'You are invited to attend our banquet, so by all means, please make arrangements to do so.' Written in a flowing, cursive script, a signature was placed at the end. Representative of the Manager of the Mystic Eye Collecting Train.

I leave the dorm, but also the name of Emiya Shirou. When I step into this Den of Snakes, my name is Shirou Von Einzbern, the son of the Magus Killer and Head of the ancient and powerful Einzbern clan. If this land needs a demon to save it from the coming dusk, then so be it.

---

August is here—so I thought the moment I stepped out of the dormitory. It was the peak of summer heat. When I first arrived in London years ago, the sheer number of people was beyond my ability to bear, so I woke up early every morning to have time to walk where I needed to go. That is how it is for all unfamiliar places, though.

I make it to school my usual way. Taking back streets and shifting in and out of the darkness. Using magic, I can use it to exercise since I don't have as much time here for my daily routines.

As I made my way along the street, my nose caught a cold smell. A sweet flavour. Tohsaka did say that I have a remarkable sense of magic through my nose.

That flavour was one of the Bounded Fields, set up by magi and imperceptible to normal people. Tohsaka taught me them even if I'll never be able to make use of most of them. There are obvious ones that altered sight; there were those that could prevent hearing and smell, and even those capable of inducing touch and taste sensations. I also learned that the way to break a Bounded Field was through meditation.

The fundamental trick was to get a firm grasp on your own location and posture, allowing you to avoid being led astray by the elements constructing the Field. Recalling that lecture, I steadied my breathing, making my way down the street with hardly any awareness of my surroundings.

Before long, my field of vision opened up. With modern-looking mirror buildings and nostalgic, old-fashioned ones lined up with each other, the cityscape had a very patchwork feel to it. Though its impact was far from that of the Golden Lane of Prague, it was certainly a quiet street where one could feel magecraft's influence.

In short, it was the city of Norwich, the Department of Modern Magecraft, and the main headquarters of the El-Melloi Classroom - Slur Street.

Though, calling it a city may be too modest...

The four-day overnight intensive course I had gone through last year came back into my mind. Just on the other side was the immovable heart of the Clock Tower - the First Department of Mystile, governed by one of the three Great Families of the Clock Tower, Trambelio. Being so close gave a sense of unease to many who came here.

In truth, my abilities, or more accurately, lack thereof, are more suited for the First Department, which focuses on General Fundamentals. Yet my father was clear that the Association is entirely untrustworthy, so I can only imagine what he would say about the heart of the Clock Tower. Waver is a bit of an exception. Father seemed to give him some minor degree of respect.

As I approached, I suddenly had an uneasy feeling in my chest.

So thinking, I pressed straight through the intersection on the ivy-covered road, entering the main building.

Passing through the hall that seemed singularly charged with a strange energy, I went up the stairs and turned down a hallway, where I immediately met an acquaintance.

"Is that you, Gray?" The girl who hid behind her hood was someone I knew vaguely. She was someone Father had found but could not save. But Waver took her in as his apprentice, and it seemed that she had finally reached the age where he was putting her to work. I have never seen her face, and I don't think I ever will. The one desire I can feel strongly for her is to just be seen as normal, and so I grant that wish. "It's been a year since I last saw you. You seem to have grown up."

Her soul had the colour of gray, it was just a bit too fitting not to note. And just as a note, Reines has a red soul despite wearing blue, and Waver had a blue soul despite liking red. ...No one would understand what I was talking about if I said this, so I just put it down as a note.

"U-umm..." Not knowing how to answer, she hung her head.

I could also tell she was someone who didn't want people to be considerate of her. So, I eventually made a sudden turn to the window that was now to my side.

"That's it, is it? It looks to be changing every year."

Through the window, I could see him in the midst of one of his lectures. It was Summer, but magi were always coming for special lectures. The Clock Tower had a mostly flexible schedule considering many of its students have many expectations from their families. Meeting other magi taught me very quickly why Tohsaka is so dutiful and mindful of her family status.

The classroom was right beside us. Though it was a lecture on magecraft, the setup looked like any other university. I had heard they were constructed extra sturdily, in the case of experiments gone wrong or altercations between magi, and that they were built over top of leylines, but as someone who was a shoddy magus, all I noticed was a sweet smell from time to time.

It seemed the lecture was just coming to an end.

From those who quickly gathered into noisy crowds to those who descended into a silent review of the lesson that had just finished, the students all did as they pleased. After reluctantly answering a few questions from some students who seemed just a bit too eager for his tastes, Waver made his way to the exit where we were standing.

"...Mr. Einzbern," he said, stopping immediately as his brow furrowed.

He was wearing the same suit and red necktie as he always seemed to. His hair was well brushed. Having just finished his lecture, he hadn't had the time yet to get a cigar. That displeased posture was a state that he always seemed to assume.

"...Huh?" For some reason, Gray found herself stunned.

Was it unease? No. She may not have eyes like mine, but she could see as well as I could that there was something ill hanging over him, more than just the black circles under his eyes.

"A pleasure to see you, Waver."

"Don't call me that. What is it that you want?" He was more frustrated to see me than surprised.

"Am I not allowed to see you? I am your supporter and student, after all."

"Of course, I don't want to see you if you don't have any business with me."

"You are as cruel as ever. Though I would much prefer dealing with you than Reines."

"Oh? Were you calling for me, my dear Shirou?" A certain blonde witch approached silently from behind me. I wonder how long she had been there.

"Speak of the devil..." I should know better than to invoke a demon. For me, it just might work. "It is good to see you again, Reines. ...Or at least I would like to say that if I could stand lying."

She chuckles coldly into her dainty sleeve, "as charming as ever, Shirou. I was unsure that I would ever see you again after the events of last year. After you could not give me an answer to my proposal. Have you come back to reconsider?" Her blonde hair and cold fake blues are the reminders that I am indeed at the Clock Tower.

Here is my ally and enemy, the person whom I share a difficult contract with, Reines El-Melloi Archisorte. Despite being younger than me, her sadism knows no limits. Considering that it was my father who killed the man that was her predecessor, and I am the successor to him, there is a certain strange relationship between us.

Her proposal is quite simple. We are to be betrothed, and that is the only way I can get out of the contract that does force me to come and see her every year.

At first, the idea was not her own. She is so young, after all, and even magi are not doing arranged marriages at that age anymore. But there were many people in her clan which wanted such a marriage since they were in such dire financial straits, and the Einzbern may very well be one of the richest clans there is. They conspired to force both of us into a marriage agreement, but in the end, it was foiled by Reines herself. Any doubt of Reines' capabilities was put to rest that day.

The thing is, she didn't put an end to it because she disagreed with the idea but rather because they were trying to force her to do it. It was much to my own surprise when she tried to scheme me into tying the knot with her herself.

There is a tense stare between us, neither of us backing down. It's simply her nature, so I can't hate her for it. Still, that doesn't mean that she is any less difficult to deal with.

At least I do not have to be her brother.

"Um... do you all know Shirou?" Gray broke the tension. She couldn't handle it. Gray knew me as Shirou, the dorm manager who used to visit her in the summers. But that was all. I never revealed to her what the magi see me as.

"This is Shirou Von Einzbern." Waver says, annoyed. Though, the fact he tells her so fast shows he has trust in her. "A student who comes whenever he pleases."

"Von Einzbern...? But Shirou, aren't you... the dorm manager?" She had enough magical knowledge to recognize the name of Von Einzbern. It was likely, too, that she was somewhat aware of what that name meant to Waver.

"Well, can you keep that a secret? You can understand not wanting too much attention, right?"

"Y-yes," she nods.

"Well, if we are finished with this beautiful reunion, can we move on now to business?" Reines says with her haughty voice.

No one in the room seems to recognize who I am. It seemed that I was still mostly unknown. Luvia and some of the Great Families must know who I am and where I was, but it was still not common knowledge. most magi didn't really care about me anyway. And among those who did, they mostly cared about the influence and power that the Einzberns possessed rather than anything to do with the Holy Grail War. The HGW was considered to be a small, irrelevant ritual by the Clock Tower. ...With a few notable exceptions.

Most of the students were more focused on Reines.

As if afraid of drawing her attention, even the other students in the classroom were covering their mouths as they whispered to each other. All of them knew that Reines El-Melloi Archisorte was the true power behind the El-Melloi Faction, the puppet master holding the strings of the glorious Lord El-Melloi II. Whether they greeted her with glares or kindness, they all knew they could easily be dragged into the power games of the Clock Tower and could guarantee an end to their everyday life. Those who knew all this yet chose to ignore it were precious few.

Reines dropped her voice low, jerking her chin toward one of the students in the classroom. "Anyways, I do have a question aside from the arrival of Shirou here... what's going over there, dearest brother?"

"Hmm? He's a new student who joined the class last month. His name is Caules Forvedge."

I looked at the person Reines was indicating - an unassuming boy wearing glasses. While most of the students admitted to the El-Melloi classroom were problem children in one way or another, he didn't seem especially like he matched that description. Playing with some sort of ceramic pot, he seemed to be trying something. Though he didn't seem especially skilled, his earnestness was plain to see. He was at least trying, and I could empathize with his struggle.

However, "That's not what I mean," Reines immediately countered. Her finger moved a little. "Why does this new student have one of Atram's Primeval Batteries?"

"Ah..." Gray blurts out, her eyes opening wide.

"Do you know what this is about?" I whisper to Gray.

"Um, well... The Primeval Batteries were Mystic Codes used by Atram Galiasta, a magus we... had to deal with last month."

"There's no 'why' even if you ask," the lord answered, shaking his head. "Flat completely analyzed that spell during the previous incident. And asking around the Clock Tower, there was no evidence he had ever made a patent for it, so I helped develop a theory for it. Then, I came across a student who happened to have a good affinity for it, so I figured I'd try teaching it to him. See, nothing strange about it at all, right?"

"What part of that isn't strange!?"

Even I could understand the frustration behind Reines' muted shout.

For a magus, the secrets behind one's magecraft were like their own life. When someone hadn't claimed a patent for something, it wasn't because it was a trifling piece of magecraft but because it was too important to risk putting in the hands of other magi. In short, rather than worrying about the problem of rights and patents, the need to conceal it took precedence.

If something of Tohsaka's were taken from her, then there would be hell to pay.

...Once again, I understood why normal magi so thoroughly rejected Lord E-Melloi II. He was much like me, a magus of unremarkable abilities. As a teacher, he was the polar opposite of Tohsaka. Maybe he was a good teacher because he was an unspectacular magus.

IF Flat hadn't coincidentally managed to analyze the spell, there was no threat at all of Waver being able to reproduce it. From the start, it was something no one would have even considered. But, once certain conditions were met, he could suddenly obtain a blasphemous level of results.

The reproduction of another's magecraft was, in a way, the destruction of that magecraft. But I, too, was a magus who specialized in reproductions.

"Sometimes, you act so much like a Lord," Reines sighed, closing one eye. "At any rate, what made that oil baron so interested in you that he's come by once a week to visit you?"

"I'm not entirely sure what he's thinking, but he's always coming in bragging about some Talisman he's bought or some Mystic Code he's made. Well, he's bragging, but only about things he wouldn't bother to keep a secret about."

Atram Galiasta. Somehow the name gave me an ill premonition.

Just the name almost made me feel dirty, and Gray seemed to be thinking of something damning about that man. Just by how people reacted to him, I could tell. He was one of those magi whom I would not have faulted my father for ending.

With a cough, Waver cleared his throat. "At any rate, I'm being careful too, so it's not like I'm being used by someone outside of Norwich."

"As if I'd let that happen!" Her second shout had a ring of sincerity to it. Being that their positions were more often than not reversed made the scene all that much more serious. "...Even I don't know when the knife is coming for your back, after all."

I saw Gray grow uncomfortable at that statement.

It seemed that they were not unfamiliar with deadly situations. Without thinking, Gray spoke. "When that time comes...I'll keep him safe."

"Oh?"

All eyes turned to her.

When we looked at her, she realized what she had said, and her face and ears turned beet red. Her embarrassment was complete. She began to shake down to my fingertips, with a feeling like she was about to throw up her own heart. She was an easy read.

Seeing that, Reines just shrugged. "How noble for someone who is only a disciple. Please, share some of that with my brother if you would."

"...Thank you, Gray," I heard a curt response from her master.

She couldn't bear to look at him, though. But no one dared laugh at her, as that would make light of her resolve.

"Anyways, to the matter at hand-"

As Reines tried to change the subject, a new voice called out. "Oh, what's this? If it isn't Reines!"

"Hmm..." Here came someone who didn't care about Reines' status. For a moment, my thoughts were occupied solely by a question mark.

It was a girl I did not know. I did know Svin and Flat from afar as they came in last year for their initial entry into the Clock Tower, but I didn't know her.

When I turned, I saw a flashy-looking, star-shaped eye patch.

She appeared to be around my age. With hair so pink it must have been dyed, her clothes evoked what I guess was called lolita fashion. With her frilly, snow-white dress, she looked less like a magus and more like some sort of idol.

"Ah, the rumoured disciple too! This is the first time we've met, right?" the eye-patched girl said, energetically grabbing Gray's hand. "Oh, and who might you be? So handsome of a man, and such beautiful eyes! Are you a magus from the Far East?" She then took my hand and shook both of our hands at once.

Facing the overwhelming tension between the four of us, she just nodded over and over.

"...Um, you are...?"

"Heheheh! Maybe it's presumptuous of me to say so myself, but I'm the always fashionable Mystic Eye Girl! The lone flower blooming in the El-Melloi Classroom, I am Yvette L Lehrman!"

As she spoke, she threw a sideways peace sign over her eye patch.

"Though I originally belonged to Kischur, the Department of Mineralogy, my application was finally accepted, and I've moved to the El-Melloi Classroom! A pleasure to meet you!"

"I...I see... I'm... Gray. Nice to meet you." Gray responded.

"My name is Shirou."

"Just Shirou?" She asked more than sceptically.

"Last names aren't as important in the Far East." An obvious lie like that was enough to make clear it was not a topic I would just give away.

"I see, I see. Oho! Gray and Shirou. Names that perfectly match your mysterious atmospheres! I had heard he had a personal disciple, but man, between Reines and me and now Gray, our professor is building quite the harem, isn't he? At this rate, he'll be the number one most sought-after guy in the Clock Tower in no time! Ah, if you're curious, he's only at number four right now!" It was strange; I swear Luvia said something about some list that I was on yesterday, but how could people want someone they don't even know the identity of?

"...And who exactly did that survey?" Waver muttered, the wrinkles on his brow growing deeper and deeper.

"Oh no, that is definitely a girls' secret! Even if you're my professor, I can't just spill the beans, can I? Though, if you feel like going on an Aventure Lesson with me now, I might let that rule slide a bit?"

"Sorry, I've got another lesson to prepare for. Reines, I'll talk to you later as well. Gray... Shirou, let's go." He hesitantly invited me with him. Now that I was here, he couldn't just pretend I wasn't important. Without me, the El-Melloi house would be insolvent.

Turning his back on us, he quickly left us all behind.

With a quick goodbye to Yvette, Reines and me, Gray hurried after him. Leaving me to deal with Reines, which I am sure is what Waver wanted.

---

After leaving behind everyone in the class, I followed after my master. Entering his private room, I shut the door behind me as I stared on in surprise.

Compared to his apartment, it was terrifyingly well-ordered. I had been here any number of times before, as evidenced by the shoe rack and tools for polishing them. The tools themselves were new, bought with money I had made at my part-time job cleaning the dormitory. But... There was definitely something off.

Compared to my memory from a few days earlier, the position of a few books and game devices seemed a little off, and the usual dust seemed strangely disturbed. It was common for my master to turn his apartment upside down looking for some document or other that he had lost track of, but for it to happen in here was quite rare.

On top of that, while each book on his bookshelf was put away neatly, it seemed almost as if someone had done so just to hide the fact they were searching through them...

...Nevermind. Putting a stop to that line of thinking, for now, I decided to try and soften the atmosphere.

"She's quite a strong character, isn't she?" I smiled a little, recalling Yvette.

Though in a different way than Flat, she certainly had a very overwhelming personality. Of course, the El-Melloi classroom had more than enough eccentric characters, but I couldn't help but feel like she was getting close to the top of that list.

My master just gave a light snort in response.

"Powerful indeed. The first time I met her, she introduced herself as a spy for Meluastea, just plain as day."

My breath caught. I had heard there were a number of different factions within the Clock Tower. The Aristocratic Faction, headed by Barthomelloi, and the Democratic Faction, headed by Trambelio. Beyond those two was the Neutralist faction. Wasn't Meluastea the family that served as the faction's head?

"Uh, if she's a spy, then..."

"Yes. In short, she's there to keep us in check. There's nothing we have that particularly needs to be kept hidden from them, but there's meaning in them going through the motions. And even without her, it seems Meluastea is trying to establish a connection with Norwich.

"...I see. Then... how do you know Shirou? He is... like a nice janitor." I remember him coming over years ago. Back when I was so nervous in this big city, and I couldn't talk to anyone, he used to go out of his way to check on me. Yet I never felt that he was forcing himself, and it was never overbearing. It was like he simply knew the sort of distance that I sought with people without me having said it.

"...Hah. It's a long story and better left unsaid. let Reines and Shirou deal with each other; it's much better for everyone else that way. ...As for him being a spy... He's far worse than that. Dealing with him can be like dealing with a lord."

I remembered what happened at Iselma. The head of one of the three great families of the Clock Tower, the old lady Lord Valueleta, came to regard my master rather highly. At the same time, it appeared as if she was trying to find some way to pull the El-Melloi family out of its native Aristocratic faction, according to Reines.

If that was the case, it only made sense that Meluastea was trying to do the same. "Not that they have any intention of trying to move us. For better or for worse, as opportunistic as Meluastea is, they don't have the guts to try a move like that. That's why they were so brazen about placing a spy here."

"...Now that you mention it, we ran into a magus that called himself a spy at Iselma, too, didn't we?"

"It's pretty common practice for one to just admit it themselves and try for a straightforward exchange of information, rather than try to play covert and risk having their cover blown later. Though, in this case, diplomat is probably a better word than spy. Maybe announcing herself was all Yvette's idea, but I'm sure even Lord Meluastea wouldn't be especially bothered by being found out.

In any case, the Department of Mineralogy that she came from used to be managed by El-Melloi anyways. In the confusion following my predecessor's death, Meluastea swooped in and took control. No doubt at the time, they expected us to be extinguished without trouble, but now that we've somehow managed to pull through the mess alive, they want to play friendly enough to avoid it devolving into an all-out war."

"...Is that how it is..." I nodded, pretending to understand. Actually, I probably got less than half of it. The political games of the Clock Tower were just too complicated for my head. I knew that before the Department of Modern Magecraft, the El-Melloi faction had been in charge of something else, but... At this point, there was something I was more interested in. As fast as I could, I finished the usual work, like getting the schedule in order, before finally resolving myself to ask. "...Master, did something happen?"

"What do you mean?" he replied, looking over some documents.

Though he gave off an unapproachable air, this time, I forced myself to press the issue. "It looks like you're worried about something." I just said what I honestly thought.

When he was explaining about Atram's Primeval Battery earlier, I felt like he normally would have had a much more composed response. The way he seemed to snap like that...though it was just a little, it felt like a response that wouldn't come from the master I knew.

Though maybe that was just me being presumptuous.

"You've completely stopped giving lectures at the main building of the Clock Tower, and even your hours here are getting reduced. Is something wrong?" There was no reply. With virtually no sound reaching us from outside the room, the silence within was almost painful. "...Does it have something to do with the Fifth Holy Grail War?"

"No!"

I jumped in surprise at his sudden shout. However, I don't think that surprise registered on my face. I was more than prepared to keep my expression under control against something like plain surprise.

For a while, I felt a burning in my throat that made it hard to speak, but I dropped my head and did my best to push past it. "...I'm sorry." I had gone too far, after all. I knew I should have been more careful, but I just spoke the first thing that came to mind. Thinking that, for some reason, maybe there was something I could do to help. "I'll be back at sundown." Turning around, I reached to open the door.

"...Please wait," my master called out just before I could open the door.

"Master...?"

There was no response.

More than being told to stop, or his anger earlier, his silence now was the most intimidating. My master was the same as always - the same as always, but somehow more gloomy. Even if it was just because of the numerous incidents I had also been involved in, it looked like someone had been chipping away at the usual facade he wore in a way I had never seen before. "I'm sorry. I'll tell you," my master said.

I somehow managed to resist the sudden urge to cover my ears. I knew that whatever was troubling him was going to be too heavy for me to handle, but even so, even if for no one else, I wanted to be a person he could rely on.

Before those scales measuring those two impulses could settle, he started to speak again.

"The most precious thing I have was stolen from me."

It felt like a sharp blade had been run through my heart.

Even though he hadn't explained the details at all, unwillingly, my mind filled in the blanks. I could feel the part of me that wanted to cover my ears and run adopt a devilish smile.

"That, is..."

"A relic of a certain Heroic Spirit."

I didn't even have to ask what he meant. One of the irreplaceable parts that made him who he was. During the Iselma incident, he had offered it up in a gamble to rescue his students Flat and Svin.

I felt like my legs were going to collapse out from under me. But, thinking of how much more it must have hurt my master, I managed to stay standing.

"B-but...why...?"

Standing, my master turned to face the wall.

"Originally, it was being held at the main headquarters of the Clock Tower in London, but after the incident at Iselma last month, it was moved here. While it's true that the Fifth Holy Grail War is getting closer, I was more interested in just being able to watch over it myself.'

Clearing away a number of books on one of his shelves, my master tapped his palm against the back of it and uttered a short incantation.

A click sounded.

The back of the shelf opened up, along with the wall behind it, to reveal a hidden safe. Even being his personal disciple, it was a mechanism I was surprised to learn about. "A hidden safe that came with Norwich. I wouldn't be able to rest easy if it was just my magecraft keeping it locked away, after all. ...at any rate, its strength is unreasonably high. Even if it was another Lord, it would require a considerable amount of work for them to open it."

With one more incantation, he used a key from his chest pocket to open the lock.

No doubt it was a twofold lock, using both mundane technology and magecraft in concert.

Inside the safe was a single envelope. "...But, a few days ago, the relic was missing. In its place was this envelope."

Without saying any more, he held it out.

Taking it from his hand, it looked like some sort of invitation.

At first glance, it looked to be a formal thank you of some sort.

On the thin, crystalline paper, a deep crimson wax seal was had been pressed. The image on the seal had an eye and wheel motif, reminding me of the angels my master once told me about. This time, however, it didn't seem to have any relation to angels. It was most likely a historical symbol in magecraft, one that just happened to look similar.

Looking up at my master to see if it was okay for me to look inside, he gave me a small nod.

For the most part, the contents were as I expected.

'You are invited to attend our banquet, so by all means, please make arrangements to do so.' Written in a flowing, cursive script, a signature was placed at the end. Representative of the Manager of the Mystic Eye Collecting Train.

"This, is..." Seeing such an ominous name for the first time, I swallowed nervously as my master whispered.

"The Mystic Eye Collecting Train - Rail Zeppelin. As its name implies, it's a train that runs through the forests of Europe, collecting any and all Mystic Eyes. Once a year, they put their collections on display and hold an auction for them."

"An auction?"

At the familiarity of that word, my brow furrowed.

"You mean...there are people out there interested enough in collecting Mystic Eyes, that they would go to such a thing?"

"Of course, there are those who are interested in them for purely academic reasons. But the Rail Zeppelin has a special meaning to it."

Slowly, my master lowered himself back into his seat.

He made no effort to hide the overwhelming fatigue radiating from him.

"What special meaning is that?"

"Transplanting," he said, putting a hand to his own eyes.

Even then, it took me a moment to understand. After blinking a few times, it finally sunk in. "...Transplanting?!" I blurted out.

"Yes, exactly like it sounds. Originally, Mystic Eyes are something developed and rooted within your own body, so even removing them is incredibly difficult. But the Rail Zeppelin is an exception to that. Ignoring all problems of physical rejection and the like, not just extracting them, they are capable of transplanting Mystic Eyes directly into a new host without risk of failure."

Stunned, I stood silent.

Just how out of this world was this place?

Of course, the idea of getting their hands on Mystic Eyes likely made most magi water at the mouth. Even as incomplete as her control of them was, I recalled just how envious my master had been of Reines' own. In short, just like Magic Circuits - weren't Mystic Eyes a talent one had to be born with?

My master took a deep breath.

Pulling a cigar out from the case in his coat, he cut the tip with the cigar cutter on his desk. Extraordinarily slowly, he struck a match, lit the tip, and raised it to his lips.

A cloud of heavy, thick smoke filled the air.

"...Allow me to explain one thing," he whispered softly. As if the scent of smoke had reclaimed his former self, his voice returned to its usual calm. Maybe for my master, the cigar was something like a mask to him. Wrapping himself in that scent and smoke to hide his true self. "Sight is the first magecraft in human history. Among the five senses, sight is the one that provides the most information. As such, many cultures across the world came to fear the Evil Eye, and many mysteries of the natural world were explained through eyes."

"Natural phenomena, you mean?"

"For example, the Sun and Moon," my master nodded, pointing at the ceiling. "Both are often described as the eyes of Heaven. The Eye of Horus from Egypt is a particularly famous example, but his right eye was the Sun, and his left was the Moon, according to tradition. Because the eyes of Heaven were always looking on, people believed that if one committed sin, they would be punished for it. That's why the God of the Sun often has the role of upholding justice. As such, though the Sun is thought of as the source of numerous blessings, it is also thought of as the bringer of many disasters, such as droughts.

Later, the Trinitarian doctrine of Christianity tied into the same idea - the eyes of the omnipotent God became connected to his providence over all things. Even the conspiracy theories of the Free Masons are all caught up in this same theory."

As my master's lecture ventured into the territory of the occult, he strangely seemed to relax. His tendency to give lectures seemed to be a thing I was getting sucked into as a daily occurrence.

"From these natural phenomena, things like the eye of a hurricane are also common. Ah, you should know that the clouds surrounding the eye of a storm like that are called the Eyewall, right?"

"Ah...yes," I nodded.

"In short, the storm itself is considered a single eye. From there, the association of wind and storms with divinity creates a connection to the eye as well. Balor, the king of the Fomorians in Celtic Myth, and Odin from Norse Mythology are the archetypal examples there." Both were, of course, famous enough that even I knew their names.

The King of the Evil Eye Balor, and the one-eyed God of Magic Odin. One, with a single eye whose gaze could annihilate entire armies. The other, who gave up one of his eyes in exchange for omniscient knowledge of all things.

"On top of that, the earth itself has eyes, too," my master continued, pointing at the ground.

"The earth?"

"Think of the mouth of a volcano. The image of a bright red eye piercing through the darkness of night is strongly connected to the image of the evil eye. Though not as numerous as gods of the storm, there are cases where these symbols were granted to goddesses of the earth. A famous example of this would be the Gorgon - Medusa, from Greek mythology."

He blew a cloud of smoke.

The room was filled with grey smoke reminiscent of a volcano's. Smelling the sulfur of volcanic gases and seeing the bright red glow of lava, was it any wonder ancient people came to fear them as magical eyes of the land?

Heaven, Storm, and Earth. Each one had its own magic eyes. If that's the case, then there was no doubt that we were always being watched.

"In a manner of speaking, the black holes discovered by modern science could also be said to be eyes born of natural phenomena. Though there was no way the ancient storytellers could have known, there is a conceptual similarity between them and Mahakala, a manifestation of Shiva in Hindu mythology. The European Organization for Nuclear Research, CERN, also uses Nataraja, another aspect of Shiva, in one of their decorative statues. The dance of Nataraja is supposed to represent the behaviour of the elementary particles, but you can also look at it as one aspect of Shiva showing the movement of Magical Energy on a micro level, while black holes symbolize the magical eye aspect of Shiva on a macro level."

"I...see..."

Though I understood less than half of what was said, I could understand the importance of it.

An eye in the far-off cosmos. Far beyond what we could ever hope to reach, there existed someone watching us. Both magecraft and science sought to draw closer to that observer, even if only a little.

"...Now, beyond that discussion, within the Clock Tower, Mystic Eyes have their own system of ranking. There are even those who can create Mystic Eyes of lower quality. Of course, it goes without saying, they fetch a high price for their work, and it's not like their success rate is a hundred per cent."

Leaning back in his chair, my master continued.

"But for true Mystic Eyes - those that occur naturally, and especially those of Noble colours, there is no option to acquire a transplant except the Rail Zeppelin. Considering their scarcity and success rate, even Barthomelloi and Trambelio would hesitate to cross them. Ah, you should understand now after all that. Transplanting powerful Mystic Eyes into someone is like cutting off a piece of a storm, or a flow of magma, and sealing it within a person."

Though somewhat circuitous, we finally found our way back to the topic at hand.

But thanks to that, I now fully understood just how abnormal it was to talk about transplanting Mystic Eyes. Much more than just an impressive feat, it was a terrifying proposition, one that filled my body with an icy terror.

"Apparently, only one time in its history, that auction was thrown off course. Apparently, Touko Aozaki and her familiar caused a bit of a ruckus. Since then, rather than confining itself to Scandinavia, it's been showing up repeatedly all over Europe." I was taken aback by the sudden mention of that name. The magus we met at the Twin Towers of Iselma - in a way, connected directly to the culprit - a Grand-class magus whose behaviour could only be described as heretical.

"...Well, if it was her, then..."

"True enough," my master echoed my feelings, a bitter expression on his face. "On the other hand, that means the only one who was able to throw them off track was a Grand. How many magi of the Clock Tower have even seen one of these invitations in person? ...and why did one appear here, in place of that thing?"

I could hear the sound of teeth grinding.

A sound with an ominous strength, making me worry about the health of his teeth. And within his eyes, a fiercely burning flame. Where on earth had that kind of passion been hiding itself?

"It seems there's nothing to do but go. I don't seem to have any other options," he said, as if to steel his own resolve.

"Gray," he spoke curtly. My master - Lord El-Melloi II, turned to me with his request. "Would you accompany me to the Rail Zeppelin?"

---

Emotion (Music) /w8STCDoDue4

The next day. Sakura didn't come to see me this morning, but I did go and check on her. She put up a strong front and was hard at work running errands for Tohsaka, who seemed to be hard at work looking to find powerful backers that would support her for a later acceptance to the Clock Tower. I didn't fully realize just how powerful she was until I heard that she was catching the attention of even Lords.

The previous day was spent with Reines, and it was all about what she wanted from me and what I wanted for her going into the next year. This contract does seem to favour the El-Melloi, but that is only because no one knows the truth of how weakened the Einzberns really became after that day Illya was saved. After some negotiations, I was able to gain some concessions this year, such as the acceptance of Tohsaka as a preliminary student of the Clock Tower under the support of the El-Melloi family. Although Tohsaka could get into the Clock Tower on her own merit, that would not be until she was done with her own school back home.

When I sent letters to the Einzbern compound detailing the help that the El-Melloi wanted for their debts, it seemed to have worked the previous years. Even if she is lost to me, Illya must at least know that it is better to keep the agreement intact than make an issue out of it. So that troublesome sister of mine does listen, even if she is hiding away from me... and sends the occasional assassin.

"...Hmm, I see," Reines nodded, picking up a small piece of chocolate. Her golden hair swayed beneath the gentle, indirect light.

It was a sweets shop that was a particular favorite of hers.

While it was a shop that had a public eat-in area for all of its customers, the private room she was in was apparently one set aside for regulars. The luxurious furniture and expensive silverware had me ill at ease, but that probably went without saying. Where were the chopsticks? Where was Fuji-nee begging for more? I never really saw the need for eating out back home.

However, avoiding the main issue yet, Reines reached her fork out for the cake on the table.

Each one of the candies in front of us looked like shining jewels. Sugary crafts that imitated the elegant shapes of flowers and crystals. Shimmering strawberries over lightly browned meringue, mousse layered in seven colours. Mixed together with its sweet aroma, I imagine there were people out there that would consider a scene like this heaven on earth.

"Right. In the end, a soft génoise is best. The batter was well done, so the fresh peach confiture can be really appreciated. With the aroma of Nuwara Eliya tea on the side, their ability to keep them distinct is infuriating."

After taking a sip of tea, Reines sat for a while with eyes closed, enraptured by her experience. Then they opened again, turning my way.

"Are you not going to eat anything, Shirou?"

"Well, fine."

I could just say no, so I reached for one of the comparatively boring-looking options near me, popping it into my mouth. Just like the chocolate I had been given before, the taste was so good as to be startling.

Though normally, my nerves in a situation like this precluded me from tasting much of anything, I could appreciate the great skill that went into creating each piece. It seemed that even in the centre of a large city, there were still artisans that tried to break away from the industrialisation of food. I need to become a better sweets chef, I realize.

"...Ah..."

"Is something wrong?"

"It's good. So good it makes me realize I have a long way to go." I nod.

"That honesty is a real selling point for you, you know. It's almost more fun just to watch you enjoy it than to eat it myself. No really, if you could just add a few humiliated tears, it'd be perfect. Come on. A few tears would be great. Won't you at least try?" She said with a chuckle.

The way she spoke really reminded me I was at the Clock Tower. That being said, I didn't find it especially unpleasant. It was just another battlefield.

English food was strange, and I really was trying to keep my manners, holding my tea the right way and all that. In the sigh that followed, Reines interjected again. "The Rail Zeppelin is something most magi of the Clock Tower only know about through rumours." I had asked her about it earlier.

"...Right," I nodded.

"If you and my brother have been invited, then I'll give you this one warning. There are two types of invitations given out for the Rail Zeppelin, so pay attention to the difference."

"Two types?"

"Among those invited to the Rail Zeppelin, there are those who are invited to come to buy, and those invited to come to sell."

"Ahh-"

The fact that an auction required someone to have goods to sell finally occurred to me.

"If you are talking about the transplanting of Mystic Eyes, that necessitates extraction of them as well. For those who lack the ability to control their own Mystic Eyes, the Rail Zeppelin is like a saviour. After all, Mystic Eyes are such a complicated organ that using them effectively is beyond the skill of most magi,"

Reines said, touching a finger to her own eyelids. After all, she had Mystic Eyes of her own. "Please excuse me." Taking eye drops out from her bag, she administered a few before pressing her hands over her eyes. Perhaps because of the stressed expression on her face, I felt pressed to ask. "Have you ever felt that your eyes were a bother, Reines?"

"Not at all. For someone like me with few redeeming qualities, these have become a precious weapon. Even if using them effectively is a challenge, I have no desire to be rid of them. If nothing else, they are more than adequate just for eliciting that envious expression from my brother," she replied, her shoulders shaking with another chuckle. After blinking two or three times, she turned back to me with her eyes blue once again. "And what of you, Shirou?"

I almost flinch, but I keep a stone face. Does she know I have Mystic Eyes? "What do you mean?"

"Do you have the desire to purchase Mystic Eyes? The Einzberns certainly have more than enough money to afford whatever it is that they would sell."

"...No."

"No? Can you even call yourself a magus if you don't seek out power for yourself?"

"I only seek the power to attain something trivial for everyone else. Even if I was offered the power to everything but that, then I would reject it." Yes. I could seize far more power than I have now. But the price of that would be my humanity. Any self-respecting magus would take that deal in a second. ...But perhaps the only reason that that power is available to me is that I do not seek it.

It took everything valuable to me. I was left with nothing except for my life. No family. No memory. No soul. I was only alive because a foolish man saved me at the moment that I became nothing. My life had no value, so it wasn't taken from me. Still, I should have ended up as a husk. But somehow, from some miracle that came into me, light returned to my eyes.

"There it is again."

"Huh?"

"The face you make when you start looking off in the distance. I don't care for it. It's like none of my insults will reach you at that point; it's vexing."

"Well, I'll try to be more expressive with my displeasure then."

"That would be better, thank you." After a little more drinking of tea, she moves on. "...Hmm, I wonder who my brother will take as his third then if you have your invitation."

"Thirds?"

"Yes. An invitation to the Rail Zeppelin comes with permission to bring two companions. One is, of course, Gray. But who else is my brother considering taking along, I wonder?"

"...it will probably be one of the El-Melloi Classroom students, won't it?"

"Hmm. With Svin and Flat out of the picture, I would expect the Pentel sisters, or maybe Rolan Perjinsky. But we all know how much he hates getting his students involved in his personal affairs." Lazily popping another chocolate into her mouth, Reines rattled off a list of names.

I was semi-familiar with those three. I do read a list of his classroom every year since I am technically funding it. If anyone knew that the money relied entirely on Illya's whims, however, then things certainly would be different.

They were students at the higher end of the class, and had won fame across the Clock Tower already. The Pentel sisters especially were a rather eccentric pair of twins, whose ability to harmonize their magical energy with each other set them apart in the Classroom - the trouble they caused him also had left a strong impression.

"Well...that's something for him to decide."

"I guess that's true. So, who will you choose as your second? That Far Eastern girlfriend you brought, what was her name... Tosiko?"

"No. Tohsaka is not my girlfriend, and she is busy. I'll be working alone here." I hear that she and Luvia have already been banned from being in the same room together over at the Department of Mineralogy. I'm sure that with time everyone will know her name. Hopefully, by then, no one will be looking for me anymore, so Tohsaka can stop being mad at me for being more well-known in the Clock Tower. Though, I'd say that I am more infamous than famous.

It was my time to ask a question. "...Your brother has taken in some terrible news, hasn't he? Something that strikes him to his core."

"Perceptive as ever, Shirou. It's true. He lost his precious Relic."

"Relic?" A historical item that has a connection to a certain Heroic Spirit. "How do you know? I don't think he would confide in you."

Reines was the picture of coolness, calmly sipping her tea as she continued.

"Just by watching my brother, I could tell something must have happened. We've been working together for seven years now, so we know each other pretty well whether we like it or not. On top of that, it had to be something serious enough that it would drive him into such a corner, yet he would still keep it secret from me, so I figured it couldn't be much else."

Reines shrugged as if the line of logic had been too simple to follow. "Who do you think it is?"

"Hmm. What about that girl from yesterday? She's a spy. I could tell simply by looking at her." My reaction earned a snort from her as she crossed her arms.

"Yvette, right? I was standing right beside her when she declared herself to be a Meluastea spy. The fact that you didn't even hear about that and yet caught on means you are not completely hopeless as a magus." Now that she mentioned it, if Meluastea's goal was to put a check on the El-Melloi, it didn't mean much if it wasn't clear to the secret power behind the name of Lord as well. "Well, together with the Lehrman family she comes from, she isn't exactly someone that uses such ordinary means. I think we can rule her out as a suspect."

"Is that so..."

"Even I have only seen that relic a single time. Aside from purely academic pursuits, for a magus, unless they have intentions of joining the Holy Grail War, it isn't an item of particular value. Though, I did come across a relic of Siegfried, which was quite valuable on its own due to being drenched in dragon's blood." She is lucky not to have obtained it. Dragon's blood has quite a curse imbued in it. The fate of the Einzbern family is one such victim of that.

Catalysts used to summon Heroic Spirits were almost always objects that were connected to that Heroic Spirit during their lifetime. And while such artefacts sometimes had magical properties that made them powerful Talismans, they were often just things that happened to be old. His relic was nothing with any quality to it.

"On top of that, Meluastea has no reason to pick a fight with my brother like that. After all, among the three factions, they are the weakest. Carelessly upsetting the balance of powers puts them at the biggest disadvantage."

"...I see."

Narrowing her eyes at me, Reines continued. "You really aren't suited to the Clock Tower, are you?"

"Huh?"

"Nevermind. ...I would just be happier if you were to stay the way you are. It'd be a great comfort to my brother and his daily stomach pains, after all. Yes, the pleasure is in neither letting them live nor letting them die. It would be a problem if he gave up and keeled over now. You make my brother sad simply by existing; that's why I like you. Oh hey, this new item is pretty good! Is that cheese seasoned with lemon?" While saying something particularly disturbing, her fork moved merrily around the table.

"Hmm. A stolen relic. If that would be used in the next war, then that is not unrelated to me..." Could this be the first sign of a master? Like I told Tohsaka, this war was coming.

"Yes. My business is something similar...I see. My brother, huh?" With an energetic murmur, she ate another piece of cake. With the way she closed one eye as she chewed, it was like she was chewing over our previous conversation as well. "I'll have to solve some puzzles first. My business comes from a Tuner."

"A Tuner?" A person who maintains a Magic Crest.

"Yes. One of my brother's few old friends. At this point, he's the only one left that calls my brother by name. Except for you, of course."

"I see." Not Lord El-Melloi II, but Waver. He hates being called that nowadays.

"That's just because this man refuses to change, of course. He's just stubborn when it comes to changing how he calls people, I guess. Well, when I talked to him a bit ago, he warned me that something was wrong with my brother, and so I needed to be careful. Something about the wrinkles in his forehead being off, similar to a violin being out of tune. Apparently, when he was traipsing around the Far East, he was the one that lent him the money or something."

"He did, did he?"

"This is why men are hopeless."

"Hmm... Who was his partner in the Fourth War?" Father's notes that he left for me may have been comprehensive in what he wanted me to know. He didn't lie about the things he did, but there was one thing he did not detail. I do not know if he was ashamed or not, but Father told me very little of what happened at that time. He did not wish to look back on those days.

...Perhaps he thought I would blame him for that red day, but I could never do that...

"Hello, are you listening? You are making the face again."

"Sorry. So, who was it?" I do lose track of myself when that burning image comes into my mind.

Her response was immediate. "Iskandar." Also known as Alexander the Great.

Of course, I knew who that name referred to. As far as those whose names had survived to be famous even in modern Europe, Alexander the Great and Charlemagne were the yardstick by which all other heroes were measured. He was born in Macedonia. Educated by the scholar Aristotle, he received the title of king at the age of twenty and, following his father's dying wish, set out to the east, toward Persia. With his overwhelming charisma and military might, he smashed the forces of Darius III, numbering in the hundreds of thousands, and trampled forward despite the offerings of peace set before him.

After that, the journey they undertook was like a dream.

Conquering the desert kingdom of Egypt, he was recognized as Pharaoh. Then further East. Clashing once more with his rival Darius III, he conquered Babylon and Persepolis. Then further East. Subduing all kinds of soldiers, kings, heroes of war, and even Maharaja, he pushed ever onward, ever eastward.

What was he seeking?

What did he hope to gain?

There was no way I could hope to understand the mind of a man who had come so close to achieving the ever-distant dream of world conquest. If every Heroic Spirit is like Gilgamesh or Angra Mainyu or now Iskandar, then I can't imagine what it would be like to have seven of them all embroiled in a war at once.

"But seriously, even fairy tales have their limits. The idea of a ritual where seven Heroic Spirits are called forth to fight, and the winners would be given the wish-granting Holy Grail is absurd enough as it is, but to add Iskandar on top of all of that..." Reines spoke as if in wonder. "I guess you would know more about it than anyone, wouldn't you, Mister Einzbern? What is the secret?"

"The rules of this war should be... different from the ones before. I don't know how, but I'm sure that things will be different this time." I don't know, and I doubt Illya does either. The only one who does is Irisviel, or whatever intelligence she has now become. ...And isn't that a terrifying thought?

The flaws that allowed the Fuyuki Grail to become a vessel of destruction were rectified. ...Irisviel made the decision to do that in the end, even if she was the one who was against it the most.

"Hmm, I see. Please, go on." She says.

"One could say that this war will be distinct entirely from the last four. But even if the Grail this time is the real deal, and even if it could promise to work… It is still no more than a minor ritual in the eyes of most magi. A hopeless endeavour, as you say."

"I did not expect you to say that. This is the creation of the Einzbern family, is it not?"

"And like all magic, it is exclusive. The ones who created it had an idea of what it was all for, but they are long gone. Even if you can use the Holy Grail to give yourself anything within the realm of possibility, that is a useless power to most magi. Magi only want to attain the impossible, but fundamentally those who wish for that can never attain it."

"Oh? Is this exclusive knowledge I hear? The sort of thing you would only tell your beloved. How wonderful that you see me in such a way."

"If I cared about you spreading it arround, then I wouldn't say it. I'm sure you will use this information to try and extort your brother for something."

"You know me so well, my fiancé~"

"...Don't just go and call someone that."

"If you make that face, then how can I not? I swear your expressions are so weird. ...At any rate, it seemed among the Heroic Spirits arrayed for that war; Iskandar's power was something else. ...He was said to have two Noble Phantasms. One, the chariot dedicated to the Gordion Shrine, the Gordius Wheel. Or perhaps we should say, the style of using that chariot to trample his enemies underfoot was the Noble Phantasm?" She said as if to confess that the Clock Tower's investigation hadn't turned up the actual statistics of the Heroic Spirits involved.

Father did not talk about his own servant.

No doubt, when Waver had risen to the seat of Lord, Reines herself had grilled him for every possible piece of information she could.

"And the second was something truly incredible. Apparently, Iskandar was able to summon his subordinates from back when he was alive. Yes, that legendary army that had come so close to actually conquering the known world. Analyzing the remains of the previous Lord El-Melloi, along with other documents submitted to the Clock Tower, we could determine he was able to bring forth an army to the tune of tens of thousands of men within his Reality Marble."

"R-reality Marble?"

"Now you lose your composure? Sure, it is an absurd ability fitting for a Heroic Spirit." My own power... the existence that lay inside myself was unlike that entirely. As inexperienced as I am, I am able to project any Noble Phantasm or weapon that I am able to trace. Yet even then, how many blades would match an entire army.

And I have an inkling of the one Heroic Spirit who did match it. The one I put to rest.

"...I see. It was just a bad matchup."

"Do you know who was the monster that could defeat even that?"

"Hah. No. It's nothing."

"Well, I don't see why there needed to be a matchup in the first place. Though I could hardly understand the desire of his predecessor to participate either, my brother's intention to participate a second time baffles me."

"That is his decision. I know that he is at least a man who would not so callously sacrifice human lives."

As if reading my thoughts, Reines pushed the conversation ever forward with a bitter smile. Having finished the cakes in front of her, she finished the last of her tea before standing up. "Ah. Just in time."

It was Gray.

"I'm not... interrupting, am I?" She said nervously.

I tried to speak up, but I was too late. "No, no. It's fine. Shirou and I were just having an interview. You know, the sort of interview that a young man and a young woman engage in."

"...Uh, huh..." Gray looked at me with a bit of contempt.

"I swear, that's not this at all. I have no interest in Reines."

"I see... I do understand that she likes to joke."

"Well, sit Gray. You wanted to speak to me, right? So ask away."

"I should go then."

"Well, then be well. Don't forget to keep you end of the deal." Reines says.

As I leave I see the two young girls talking. Gray still hides her face deep under her hood. I overhear parts of their conversation.

On the table in front of her, Reines put down a black credit card and a cell phone.

"If the only way to get back that relic is to participate in the auction, you'll need some real firepower, right? I'm sure my brother will resist the help until the very last moment. It seems he went through quite a bit of trouble to get some money without me finding out. Though judging from his behaviour recently, it seems that soft-hearted old Lord Norwich has put out for him."

"Miss Reines...!"

Gray's voice suddenly jumped.

In contrast, Reines just tapped her chin with a finger, whispering mischievously. "Heheheh. It seems we've found a way to suddenly increase that debt he's been slowly paying back. As much as possible, please wait until the last moment to hand it over to him. Oh, and the cell is a gift for you. Please feel free to use it to your heart's content. At the very least, you should be able to make contact with the outside world before and after the auction itself."

Was she being reliable, or just being predatory?

Those eyes, turned blue by her medicine, sparkled as Reines El-Melloi Archisorte gave a wide, elegant smile.

I didn't know it at the time, but I would never make it to the train when it came three days later.

---

Three days had passed. Master and I were ready to make it to the train which we were invited to.

That night, the fog was especially thick. Silvery light from a slightly less than full moon was the only thing attempting to penetrate it. This late at night, there was no sign of others coming and going, lending a kind of frozen calm to the night air.

The invitation had led us to an old station in the suburbs.

Thanks to a number of routing changes, it had long ago lost its function as a train station. And while it had obviously been shut down to the outside, it still maintained the 'form' of a station. My master had paid no mind to the blockade shutting the station out from the outside, stepping over it without hesitation.

I, however, had come to a stop.

Though it was nothing more than an abandoned station, this night alone, it seemed like a gateway into purgatory itself, like it was the maw of a great beast, waiting to devour anyone who carelessly stepped inside.

"Master..."

"It's alright," he responded shortly.

Steeling myself with his words, I also jumped over the fence.

"Umm..."

One more person called out behind us.

In the darkness of the night, was a boy wearing glasses, working himself up over something.

"Thank you! For bringing me along with you!"

Caules Forvedge.

The student my master had taught about Atram's Primeval Battery. Though he was supposedly 18, perhaps because of his freckled face, he seemed oddly childlike.

"Bringing you along? You're the one who demanded we take you," my master replied with a cold sigh.

Caules, in turn, dropped his shoulders despondently

"...I'm sorry for eavesdropping."

"It's not like I'm mad at you. After all, it's technically Flat's fault anyways."

When my master had worked together with Flat to recreate the Primeval Battery, apparently, Flat had taken the opportunity to set up a spell for spying. Since Flat forgot to dismantle it, Caules happened to come across it, and thus happened to hear the conversation between my master and myself.

To have set something like that up and then forget about it and return to his homeland with it still in place, it really lent credit to his title of "Idiot Genius."

"Whether he's around or not, he's always causing some sort of trouble, isn't he?" my master said with a bitter scowl.

That alone reminded me of the master I knew. It felt like there was a bit more bitterness in those words than normal, but I decided let that slide.

"I'm sorry. But I definitely heard something about the Rail Zeppelin," Caules said, apologetically. Usually, the apologies I heard were done with chests puffed out proudly and not a shred of contrition to be seen, so in a way, this was a fresh sight.

"...why, though?" I suddenly felt the need to ask.

In response, Caules scratched his cheek, troubled.

"I always thought, there was no way I could become a magus."

"Really?"

"My sister was always just too good. I was never anything more than a spare. Since she had health problems, I was a spare for that one in a million chance something happened to her."

His words rang with self-derision.

But, as much as his words dripped with bitterness, so too did his eyes shine with something like pride.

"But in the end, my sister couldn't continue the family line. Though she definitely would have succeeded if she came to the Clock Tower, she threw it all away and ran...and in the end, I'm the one who ended up with the Magic Crest. Haha, though I say that, even without my sister's refusal, the Forvedge family is already well on its way into decline." He shrugged with a bitter smile. "So no matter how small it is, I want to learn whatever I can. I don't have the kind of money it would take for a Mystic Eye transplant, but if the Rail Zeppelin really exists, I want to see it for myself."

He spoke without hesitation.

Just because it's there, I want to learn about it.

...Unexpectedly magus-like...

So I thought.

I'm sure the reason my master was unable to refuse him was that overflowing enthusiasm. Or perhaps, the underlying sense of inferiority he had was something my master couldn't bear to throw away.

...That was a feeling I could understand, too.

"Are you done introducing yourselves?" my master called out.

Apparently, he had, at some point, pulled out a cigar, waiting for our conversation to end. He was truly conscientious in a way I found hard to understand.

"By the way," I continued with more questions. "Why are you wearing glasses, Master?"

"These are Mystic Eye Killers. I had to get them at a moment's notice, so I paid far more than I should have for them, though," he said in a miserable voice, lifting the glasses up to look at them.

If I recall correctly, Mystic Eye Killers were a specialized Mystic Code for defending against Mystic Eyes.

"There's no way I can go somewhere like the Rail Zeppelin without at least this much preparation, though. Even having my heart stopped at a single glance is one of the better possible outcomes. If I were hit by something like a Compulsion or Contract spell, I wouldn't even be able to cry if I wanted to."

When it came to Mystic Eyes, regardless of what mechanism they used, it seemed they could ignore the preparation required for other spells and just deliver their effects directly. It appeared my master's glasses were a countermeasure for that.

At any rate, the sight of my master wearing glasses was out of place enough that I found it hard not to stare.

Regardless of my staring, however, he quickly made his way into the station.

On the dimly lit platform inside, a number of other figures were scattered about.

Were they all invited too...?

Somehow, a couple of lights were set up within the station that should have been completely abandoned.

Under a cloak of dense fog, the ghostly lights illuminated a series of stone arches and the figures of people standing around them. It gave off the impression of a scene one might see a hundred years ago. I wonder what those people thought back then, laying eyes on those enormous steam engines?

As we entered the platform, one of the figures took notice of us, and immediately began walking over.

"It's been a while, Lord El-Melloi II."

"...You are...!" Without realizing it, my breath caught. Brightly drawn flowers decorated the plainly eastern style of clothing - there was no mistaking the characteristic long-sleeved kimono she wore. The bespectacled beauty greeted us with a bright, gentle smile.

"...I had a feeling we'd cross paths again sooner or later," my master replied.

"If you're here, does that mean the Department of Law has taken an interest in the Rail Zeppelin auction?"

"Department of Law...!"

Behind us, I could feel Caules going stiff.

It was hard to fault him for it. Among the twelve research divisions of the Clock Tower, they were the Department that belonged to none of them. From the outside, they monitored and managed the Magic Association as their primary purpose. The First Principle Enforcement Division - the Department of Law. Different from the magi that pursued Mystery, they existed to manage and regulate them.

And she was one of them - Hishiri Adashino.

The woman we had met at Castle Adra was before us again. "No, today I'm here for entirely personal reasons," she said with a shake of her head.

Not that we could trust her. In the previous incident, in a way it could be said she was the mastermind on a level even above that of the culprit. And even if that wasn't the case, the Department of Law operated with a completely different set of goals and principles than other magi. It felt like she was the kind of person that could slip poison into your drink at any time.

However, we had no time to pry into that now.

Another clear voice echoed down the abandoned platform.

"...Not just a rat from Law, but a Lord too. And who would have thought it would be the famous Lord of Norwich?"

Turning around, I dropped my gaze a little.

She looked eleven, maybe twelve years old. With an impudent set to her jaw, the silver-haired, amber-eyed girl was quite pretty, despite her glare.

"Well, well," my master seemed surprised. Returning his cigar to its case, he politely bowed his head. "It's been a while, Miss."

"Hmph. Even the trophy husband of Norwich remembers me, huh?" she spoke, a venom to her voice surprising coming from one her age.

Though she was entirely correct, I had never seen someone speak with such blunt offence to my master before.

"...Who is she?"

As if offended at my whispered question, the silver-haired girl put a hand to her chest.

"Olga Marie. Olga Marie Asmleit Animusphere." It sounded like a somewhat familiar name. My master added to her introduction. "Animusphere. She's the daughter of the Lord of the Department of Astrology."

"The daughter of...!"

Keeping from shouting in surprise was surprisingly difficult.

The Department of Law, and now the daughter of another Lord.

Just with these two, it felt like we had entered another world. The one thing that kept me from feeling dizzy from the shock was seeing how much worse Caules had taken it. No matter how infamous the Rail Zeppelin was, I had never expected such a list of visitors.

"I know, by the way. That you're just a scapegoat that's wormed his way into the El-Melloi faction to replace the previous Lord - Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald."

Despite her spontaneously biting comments, my master didn't respond in kind.

"You're awfully straightforward, aren't you? Not like the Clock Tower at all. I'm also surprised. It's pretty rare to see someone so young from the Animusphere family coming down from the mountains."

"Not really. Just like you, even if this is all a waste of time, we can't avoid coming. So, are you here after some set of Mystic Eyes too?"

With a sharp gaze, Olga Marie pressed for answers.

In response to her thoughtlessly wilful interruption, Hishiri was content to watch from the sidelines, not cutting in at all.

My master, however, was not so straightforward with his answers.

"...I wonder."

"Hmph. You wouldn't tell me even if you were, anyways. No way you'd give up information right before an auction."

"That's not necessarily true. If we're aiming after a different target, sharing that reduces the stress on both of us, doesn't it? You thought the same thing, didn't you?"

My master's response was thoroughly composed.

It felt a little strange. Normally, though my master didn't pick fights, his responses were always coloured with bitterness and cynicism. This time, however, his words seemed somehow softer.

As I tilted my head to the side in confusion,

"...Miss Olga Marie," another tall figure stepped toward us.

This time it was a woman in her mid-twenties, wrapped in a purple coat with her hair tied up. The leather teacher's cane at her hip gave the impression she was a personal tutor of some sort. The classic styled, tortoiseshell glasses she wore looked good on her.

...Are those also Mystic Eye Killers?

There was no way to tell just by looking at them.

At that point, I also finally realized that Hishiri's glasses could also be the same. While I was sitting around dumbly, the magi had all been working hard in preparation. From their perspective, the battle began the moment they saw their opponent's face - or perhaps, the battle ended then.

That's how they had survived for so long, no doubt.

"Lord El-Melloi II. And Hishiri Adashino, I presume? I am Trisha Fellows, Miss Olga Marie's attendant. ...Now please, Miss."

"What? What do you want, Trisha?"

"My apologies. Please allow us to introduce ourselves again later."

With that, the two of them hurriedly departed.

Some kind of accessory slipping down from the hem of Trisha's coat had caught my attention.

Huh?

I blinked.

Though it may have just been the odd angle I saw it from, it kind of looked like...

Something... kind of obscene...

Feeling my cheeks start to burn under my hood, I shook my head from side to side. It must have been my imagination. And at any rate, it was none of my business. As I choked on some saliva I had failed to swallow; I somehow managed to keep a straight face.

Beside me, Caules' mouth was agape. "Aren't you angry, Professor?"

"Angry about what?"

"Even if she's the daughter of a Lord, that behaviour seems a bit much, don't you think?"

"Ahh. If I got angry at that much, I'd be angry forever. No, someone who wears their hostility so plainly on their sleeve is actually preferable to deal with, in my opinion. It's much harder dealing with magi that approach you with a friendly face."

"Oh? And who would that be referring to?"

Ignoring Hishiri's smile, my master continued.

"Besides, the fact I'm basically just a decoration is true. Soon enough, both she or Reines will transfer to the Department of Law, and that small correction will be entirely in Reines' hands."

"...I...see."

Surprised, I also was at a loss for words.

"Yes, most Lords end up in the Department of Law for a while. That's where they learn how to rule the Clock Tower. In that way, I still want to get along with them."

"Of course,"

At Hishiri's nod, my master grudgingly acknowledged her.

In a way, maybe you could say they worked together well.

"But just like you said, it's rare for those Animusphere shut-ins to come all the way down here. I wonder if they've found some Mystic Eyes that have caught their interest?"

"Who knows? If it's them, they could probably just throw money until they got what they wanted," he muttered softly.

My master then glanced across the crowd of people gathered on the platform. I noticed that, Shirou, the boy who had suddenly came and seemed so connected to Master and Reines was absent. "Master, is Shirou coming?"

"...Let's hope he doesn't. Things tend only to go from bad to worse when he is involved."

I didn't get it, but he may have simply decided not to come.

It was impossible to see clearly. The thick fog dyed the air of the platform white, making it hard to see anything much beyond your own eyes.

"It's getting thicker, isn't it?" Hishiri whispered. London was often called the City of Fog.

While it was true that it was often quite foggy in the winter, the reason came from something else.

Smog. Since the 19th Century, the enormous amount of fossil fuels consumed by the Industrial Revolution had given off smoke and soot that had mixed with the city's natural fog, enclosing the capital of the British Empire in a thick smog that bound one's vision to only a few meters in front of them. But what surrounded us now was different.

The thick blanket blocking our vision had no traces of pollution. Nothing but a pure white mist. It gave me the fairytale-like impression I could reach out and weave it into silk.

And finally, we heard it. A loud noise that shook the fog hanging around us. "A steam whistle...?" I muttered.

An old, nostalgic sound that matched well the scenery of this abandoned station. A sound that reached down into the depths of me, and made me forget what I knew about modern trains.

Light pierced through the fog.

Elegant wheels rolled in over the tracks.

The main engine soon followed, billowing smoke into the air, and then the rest of it rolled into view. The dark grey, dignified hull made it look like a warship ready to sail through the sea of fog. It reminded me of the legend of the Flying Dutchman, a ship cursed to wander the seas forever. It seemed so out of place. It seemed so absurd. Yet, that's what made it such a fitting stage. The gathered magi no doubt looked at it with those same thoughts.

"...The Rail Zeppelin...!"

---

Right before I left the dorm, I was stopped by Luvia who didn't seem very happy when I told her I was going to be gone for a little while.

"What do you mean you might be gone for a little while, we only just reunited!?"

"Well… Sorry, but it's important.

"No, no… nothing like that. I just… have a bad feeling is all."

"Hmm, like the scent of a hunter. Yet it seems that you have a different scent entirely from my own.

"Well, I'm just organizing a well, event, and you were supposed to be there. That was

"I see. So is it an incident? You need my support, is it? I'll try my best. I do specialize in combat magic-"

"No, no, no! It's a party, a celebration of my ascension to the position of Head of the Edelfelt clan. I am inviting you to be my guest of honour, so don't get the wrong idea… And don't think you are my date or anything; that would be the wrong idea too!" She waves as if desperate to be clear.

"I see… Well, I can do that too, I guess." I didn't really think magi were much into events like that, but Luvia may be different.

"Well, I was going to tell you, but Miss Tohsaka kept coming at me every time I came close to you. She is complete without honour or dignity."

"Well, I did hear that you two seem to have become famous already."

"Well, it seems that Miss Tohsaka is stalking me. It so happened that we are in the same Department, and we showed up to the same classes. It just so happened that those classes were postponed after she started to attack me for no reason. And yet the Clock Tower has decided to punish me and her with the same veracity. The nerve of them! She will pay with this in time."

"Yet… you will keep peace in the dorm… right?"

"Well, if you are leaving, then there is no point in me staying here with that woman. I'll stay where my servants and my sister stay in the current Edelfelt mansion. There are always things for me to do." The mention of the mansion reminded me of the knowledge that Edelfelt has a presence in Fuyuki. Though, I don't think Luvia knows that simply by what I have read from her. She seems to only have a surface understanding of the Holy Grail War and that the Tohsaka and the Einzbern had been enemies of her family at one point.

"You are leaving, Luvia? Well… that's too bad. Will you be leaving the third floor to Tohsaka alone then?"

"...I'll return when you return. If I let Miss Tohsaka take over, then this place would become a pigsty in short order. If you are to go be hard at work, then I have no excuse considering that I am your better. What sort of noble would I be if I was being outclassed by a commoner?"

"Hmm. If that's what you are doing, then I shouldn't have to worry about Tohsaka either."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Nothing, nothing. You two are not similar at all, and I wasn't guessing her actions on your own. You have plenty of differences. …For example, she has black hair and you have blonde hair." I say sarcastically, yet she seems to take it completely seriously.

"Oh? And which do you prefer?"

This again? "You both have… your own merits. Everyone has something they are better with than others; I like to think."

"Like what? In which ways am I superior to Miss Tohsaka? What do you really like about me?"

"Well- I really should be going now."

"I'll take that to mean that you are saying I am better at everything. I'll be sure to tell Tohsaka that is what you said."

I walk away, knowing that Tohsaka is not going to be happy with me the next we meet.

…But I know that things won't be the same next time I see her. For many reasons.

---

Permeating Stain (Music) /DK_nJTwVP_8

That night really was otherworldly. It was cool and foggy despite being summer, and it was very much like London. So it was natural for this environment to contain monsters. Yet I had grown too complacent. I had forgotten that monsters can come in forms that are no longer even able to be seen by anyone but me.

Like a virus. An existence that destroys human society more than anything, yet is invisible. Yet even science was not able to see this one thing.

I was walking through the darkness when it happened without warning. Where we would all board the Rail Zeppelin, and I would investigate whatever was brewing her. Yet… It seemed that there was no need for me to look for evil.

I forget that the greatest vortex of all evils in the world is already inside of me. It's natural for that to be attractive to some. It was like being hit with a baseball. Annoying, and it stings, but not terrible. But I knew… I knew that if it affected me at all, then it was something terrible.

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST FEAR?

No. In fact, I was the first one to experience it. I was the one who had the highest sensitivity to evil, after all. I was a magnet for it, and it came right to introduce itself. A curse. A malignant evil that was far beyond the mystery of magi.

MANIFEST YOUR FEARS.

"Huh?"

My body is immune to curses. That was a rule Tohsaka got mad at me for just saying, but she in the end also thought of the reason for it. My Reality Marble. A Reality Marble can be invoked to invert the inner world into the outer one, but it also has the passive role of always. In short, my body, Emiya Shirou's body, is always connected to that world. I am never not on that hill.

This is important, because this curse was not targeted at me, but rather on the land itself. And so my immunity was partial. My eyes read its name, and immediately it was like I was struck by a lightening bolt.

TATARI: The Curse of Rumours~

It was another curse on the same scale of Chaos'. No… Chaos' was beyond what should be possible, yet it was still focused and small in scale. This was… something terrible.

When a community of people imagines one thing at the same time, a consensus of the village emerges as a legend. This curse can only exist by clothing itself in rumours, so as the isolated legends, often dealing with taboo, are spread between people, its roots spread through the area. It permeates the unpleasant rumors that begin to turn into reality as time passes, allowing it to occur due to the bizarre circumstances. It pieces together anxiety from a little bit of the rumors and reality to take form. Once such a legend becomes universally established, the curse takes form in reality.

That is why the curse short-circuited my brain when my eyes witnessed it, but also that is why I survived it. I knew one thing. I could under no circumstance let it spread inside of me, allowing it to witness all the horrors that humans fear and loathe above all. Yet the difference was that Angra Mainyu was born as a Beast of man, while this was born of something different. Something that I have grown too familiar with…

The moon was bright that night, and I smiled as I fell. I smiled because I could keep my promise to Arcueid now. I could be her knight, and deal with those that are her enemies.

It was a blessing in disguise when I fell to the ground, becoming unconscious in mere seconds. It was as if my soul knew that the only counter to this was to turn my brain off completely. Even though my mind was gone, my soul was drawn elsewhere that night. It was strange, but I was pulled into a vision.

As if there was something pulling me to see such sights. Somehow what I saw calmed me like no other thing could. I am protected by a far greater light than any curse. If I wasn't, then surely I would have died a million time over by now.

---

KishiounoHokori (Music) /g8ygyI5_Zhs

As the morning rays shone through the door's gaps, she awoke while feeling their warmth on her eyelids. Her surroundings were dim, and the presence of other creatures and the scent of hay permeated throughout. She was enveloped in a blanket—seemingly her elder foster brother's doing—to offer a smidge of protection from the cold. Glancing at it, she recalled that she was in the stables. Last night, she'd grown so concerned about a newborn foal that she ended up staying with it until the wee hours of the morning.

"Oh no. I mustn't keep Ector waiting again."

The gentle face of the foster father that raised her for the last fifteen years came to mind as she speedily yet carefully put away the blanket, straightened her clothes, and put together the horses' morning meal.

This routine marked the beginning of her day. Once she finished tending to the horses, she'd head to the garden, where her foster father, Ector, awaited. Every morning, she was only permitted a meagre morsel of bread. It was meant to last her throughout her swordsmanship training, and only after sparring in a famished state would they partake in breakfast. This was a tradition between the two of them.

"Eto, I finally landed a blow on Ector yesterday. I only managed to push him back slightly—a single step—but on a ruthless battlefield, would that not be a decisive blow? It could've led to his foot catching on a tree's root, causing him to stumble. Under certain conditions, it'd be my victory. Or so I think."

She gleefully spoke to her foster father's beloved steed as she brushed its coat.

Her foster father Ector was the strongest and most tenacious knight she knew. He had not won glory in battle, but neither was he ever the subject of gossip, as he never sought fame. Despite this, to her, he was the ideal knight. Bested by the passage of time, he withdrew from the front lines of war. However, his prowess with the sword hadn't waned a sliver, even to this day. When she forced her foster father to exert himself in the slightest, her delight was clear to see.

"But he's seemed rather troubled recently. Seeing someone like Ector down in the dumps makes me worry."

He was both her foster father and a strict mentor, but that strictness of his had begun to fade away as of late. Her relentless mentor, who constantly paid a keen eye to her every action and brought attention to her every mistake, could now often be seen looking at the girl with an inexplicable look on his face. It was one of anguish, remorse, and sorrow.

The very fact that Ector displayed a look of weakness on his face bewildered her. She wished to absolve him of his worries, but as a mere squire, there was not much she could do.

"Ector. If something is weighing on your mind, do speak freely of it. I am resolved to do anything unless you plan to cut down on our meals. Are your legs troubling you, after all?"

She had once asked this of him.

"Hm, it is simply your imagination. My body shall be in good health for another ten years. However, Artoria, it seems you are not quite ready to do 'anything'."

He replied dispassionately, as he always did. Though Ector's unfailing health was certainly a blessing, it only served to whet her curiosity regarding his troubles even further.

Her foster father's beloved steed brushed its long face against hers.

"Indeed. I'm certain Kay has been stirring up trouble again. Even Ector can't mend that potty mouth of his."

She stroked the steed's back with a wry smile on her face, then departed the stable.

As she opened the wooden door, she was greeted by an expanse of grass illuminated by the morning sun. Ector's dwelling was situated on the outskirts of town, removed from the bustle of the neighbourhood's daily happenings.

Despite favouring solitude, he did not dislike mingling with people. She understood why he had chosen to reside here: it was because of her. Thinking about it made her want to convey her remorse to him, but she understood that it would mean desecrating his pride. He fulfilled his duties as a knight. He took her in, raised her, and even departed from his place amongst the other knights. She must not respond to his deeds with guilt. Back then, and to this very day, she believed that the feelings she ought to harbour toward him were those of gratitude.

"No, but..." In truth, she had but a single dissatisfaction: he strictly forbade her from calling him 'father'. In the end, she was never granted the chance to call him by that name, filled with her affection. The aged knight awaited her in the back garden. He had not changed a speck. He was ever the relentless mentor who took her in and taught her the way of the sword. Ever since she took up the blade ten years ago, he had continued earnestly training her every single day. Indeed, that had remained unchanging until this day — the day that would mark its end.

"Sorry, I'm late! I overslept!"

She tossed the piece of bread prepared by Ector into her mouth and picked up a wooden sword.

"You seem rather lively for someone who claims to have overslept. Very well. As usual, I will not hold back this morning."

The aged knight was composed, as he always was. With sword and shield in hand, he smoothly and naturally assumed his stance. His gaze was gentle, yet burdened by sorrow — the sorrow of parting — which the girl feigned ignorance toward.

"Artoria. It seems Kay forgot his things. Make your way to town and bring them to him. If you depart now, you should be able to make it in time. "

After finishing lunch, Ector entrusted her with a full set of knight's equipment. Kay — Ector's son, and Artoria's elder foster brother — had gone out to town. Seemingly, some sort of special fair was taking place in the town today. Kay had ridden off on Ector's horse, venturing toward town to participate in the fair. However, in his haste, he failed to take a knight's most vital possession with him — his lance.

"Jeez. My brother calls himself a knight, yet he's forgotten his lance. Is that even possible?"

"Indeed. Jousting has fallen into decline. In this day and age, there are more draft horses, and combat steeds have grown sparse. This is the only lance in our family's possession, which is why I could not teach you how to handle it."

"Really? I believe it'd be rather simple to fashion a mock lance though."

"You would be the one handling it after all. The Mage decreed that I may train you with a false sword, but never with a false spear. It would be problematic if you were to develop any strange habits."

"I will not develop any of those 'strange habits' you speak of. I just need to deliver this to Kay, right?"

"Indeed. This will be your final task for the day."

She nodded in response, took a horse from the stables, laid her brother's belongings on its back, and departed for the town. Descending from the hill where Ector's house stood, she passed through the meadows and made her way through the gap between the fields. The sky was dotted with clouds, but the clear weather indicated there would be no need to worry about rain.

As her brother's face came to mind, she suppressed her feelings of impatience and continued at her usual pace. Her horse had a heavy load on its back, so she refrained from forcing it to move faster.

"...I don't see anyone around. It's so lonely even though it's the season for harvest."

After casting her gaze over the familiar countryside landscape, she turned her attention to the distant forest. It had provided them with a multitude of blessings until just a year prior. The hunters would enter, only bringing back the necessary meat and fruits. However, it was their hunting grounds no longer. The foreign tribes had found their way into the forest, slowly encroaching upon the Britons' livelihoods. Now, if you entered the forest and were unfortunate enough to run into them, you wouldn't even have time to worry about finding food to put on the table tomorrow—you'd have to worry about finding a way to survive the day.

Fifth-century Britain was an island in the midst of great upheaval. It all originated with the collapse of the empire on the continent. Britain—which was under the empire's protection—began to decline. The foreign tribes, known as the Saxons, crossed the seas in search of sustenance. They sought food, garb, and land to dwell upon. Britain was an island nation ruled by many kings and tribes. Though the conflict between the tribes was unending, there was also the war with the Picts inhabiting the north. This northern invasion gave rise to the kings' cooperation.

However, one of the kings corrupted their pact. He aimed to use the foreign tribes to fulfil his own desire: the unification of Britain. He was the Vile King Vortigern: the incarnation of the white dragon born from Britain in order to one day destroy it. He beckoned the Saxons in, throwing the island into the midst of chaos.

Londinium, the cornerstone of Britain, a fortress city constructed when the empire once ruled, was reduced to ruins. Uther Pendragon—the greatest of all kings—was defeated by Vortigern in this battle and disappeared for all eternity. Vortigern granted the Saxons land, and the respite afforded to them temporarily quelled the invasion. However, to this day, many kings still maintained their displeasure over this decision.

...And so began the dark age of Britain. War became an everyday occurrence. Britain had always been a rather infertile land, and only a scarce selection of crops could be grown. The people's lives grew harder day by day, and it was evident that Britain would soon fall to ruin.

But they did not lose hope as this had all been prophesized by the great mage Merlin, advisor to Uther and protector of Britain.

"King Uther has chosen his successor, and he will be our new king. When our new king—the red dragon's incarnation—makes himself known, thus shall the Knights of the Round Table gather and vanquish the white dragon. This truth shall soon be known to all: our king still lives!"

Merlin's words echoed throughout the entire nation. The people continued to await their future king's arrival. Meanwhile, though the knights were granted relief by Merlin's prophecy, they had also grown restless. They mused deep within, wondering if they themselves could be the chosen king. Meanwhile, Vortigern continued ruthlessly searching for Uther's successor. That was ten years ago.

King Uther's successor would turn fifteen this year. Five years before his demise, he had a premonition of his battle with Vortigern and colluded with the Mage to create an heir that would soon save Britain.

Artoria made her way past the fields, and the greenery surrounding the town finally came into view. While Londinium was a fortress city built in the empire's style, this town was as mundane as it got.

Certainly enough, the town's mood was unlike usual. Everyone had grown restless, and Artoria began to head for the knights' training ground on the outskirts of town. The children were making merry and running around, each wanting to be the first to reach their destination. On one hand, the adults' eyes were sparkling with overflowing hope and expectation, but on the other, they were waiting with bated breaths, trying to avoid the disappointment of their hopes being betrayed as they hurriedly made their way.

The dream ended there.

The truth was that I had seen this vision many times as if it was a part of me, but I forgot it each time. It was not so much of a vivid dream as it was something, anything, for my mind to focus on.

Yet there was one thing I could not forget even if I tried. The ideal. The willpower. The radiance that came off of that person.

I was in love with her before I even knew she was.

---

Stranger (Music) /_zJBSNM77rQ

It was still dark when I awoke. I later found out it was no more than an hour. I was sleeping on the cold concrete ground of London. It was a dark alley, and I felt like a victim of Jack the Ripper. "Ugh… My head…" My head was pulsing, and my eyes were still readjusting.

That curse… It was, in a way, already too late simply because I knew about it. Such was the power of a curse based on rumours. I could contain it if it was just me. I would have to go all out and call on the entirety of my power, but it's likely it's already too late for that.

I was out of it. There was a presence. Before I realized it, there was someone there.

I looked up and saw her. It was a woman. She had long, bright purple hair kept in a long braid, with light skin and purple eyes. A white skirt, purple shoes and stockings, and a white blouse with a purple overshirt and cap; the last two had the symbol of infinity and a cross on it. She was wearing a mustard yellow scarf tied in a manner reminiscent of a cravat, and adorned each of her wrists with a single toroidal, yellow bracelet.

"Huh?"

"Young, about fifteen or sixteen. Likely a magus affiliated with the Clock Tower, but that is uncertain. Unlikely to be a Dead Apostle, but uncertain. First glance analysis suggests a magus of very unremarkable ability, but that too… remains uncertain. You are an uncertain point of existence. Almost, you could say, a mystery." She was talking at me, but not so much with me.

She was very serious, looking at me. She did not give off the bookish feeling I get from many Clock Tower magi. Rather, she had a smell that was almost like red sand coming from a desert. Like a scientist looking down at an experiment.

I shake my head. "What are you… talking about?"

"Physical characteristics of a possible enemy. I do not wish to fight, but if you are on the side of the Dead Apostles, then I will not hesitate in ending you now."

"Dead Apostles? As in vampires?"

"Yes? Are you oblivious, then? No. I felt the presence of an extraordinary curse for a moment. The sort of power only found in Dead Apostle Ancestors, yet all I find is you. Logically, you are a clear subject… Yet you are difficult to read." She was thinking intently. No… She was thinking faster than thinking should allow. "Then allow me to ask, are you a vampire?"

"What? No. I'm just a magus…"

"Tell me, what is your name? What is your magical lineage?"

"My name? Um… Shirou… Shirou Von Einzbern."

"...Von Einzbern? That is a well-known name even in Atlas, but I thought it was a clan of homunculi. Regardless, it seems that you do speak true. Yet I did feel something last night, a strong curse centred in this vicinity."

"...What is your name then?"

"My name is Sion Eltnam Atlasia, the greatest Alchemist of Altas. I have yet to meet with the Church which asked for my presence, and yet I find you here. …It seems that you are the first piece of the puzzle in order to find the program this time. Hmm, it seems that it is unavoidable. I will have you under my employ for a while."

It seemed that my path to getting on that train was going to be not so straight-forwards.

---

At the same time, in a dark room under the Vatican. A room that can not be called anything less than a prison cell. It was a room where she had experienced numerous tortures in as they tried to find some way to kill her. Yet she always came back, even when she didn't want to.

She sits as if in meditation. Or perhaps she is so still as she sees no point in living when it is not suited to a single purpose. When she is not working, she does nothing, as if she is dead.

Yet that purpose always does come. Someone she hates comes to give her a mission. The director of the Burial Agency, a monster among monsters, spoke to the newest member of what was the Church's most deranged division.

"Burial Agent Seven. It seems that there are multiple targets converging once more in England. Your mission is blah blah... I don't really care. You know what to do, and if you don't, then die for all I care."

"Multiple... Ancestors?" The woman opens her eyes. It is like her heart only beats when she is on the hunt.

"Yes, and candidates who seek recognition. The only ones yet confirmed are Rita Rozay-en, and even the entire forest of Einnashe has moved by some Great Magic. There is also one called Louvre who is making a play towards filling a vacancy for the next Ancestor, but it seems that he has become the target of the Association."

"A vacancy in the Ancestors? Of what position?"

"Tenth. It seems that someone or something put an end to Nrvnqsr Chaos. It was out of the blue. Some say that he was done in by the White Princess of the True Ancestors; others say it was done by some other force entirely. Some say it was a mysterious demon that may be worthy of Ancestor classification, but it is only a rumour as of yet."

"Who said that?"

"Sister Kiara. It seemed she was interested in something, but she kept it to herself in the end."

"Still. What is the occasion? The Dead Apostles could not possibly be near finishing the Aylesbury Valesti."

"No, but it seems that they have balanced the scales and decided to cheat in such a way that allows them to make a test run, one could say. It seems they may be experimenting with the Thirteenth Ancestor; the church has apparently even called on Atlas for support in this case due to their familiarity. Whatever it is, it is something they would leave the safety of their strongholds for, even if only for a moment. All centred across England. They would use the Association against us by putting it right on their doorstep. If any magi seek to hinder you, then treat them as your enemy. Understand?"

"Yes."

"Good. It seems that all you care about is this hunt of yours; why don't you find a boyfriend or something? Haha, but if you did, I would enjoy killing him in front of you. Anyways, this mission is going to be a great bloodbath. I wish I could see it in person. The Vatican has decided to send in everyone they can muster, including the Knightly Orders. I hear that they are so spread thin that they are even calling on the Knightly Orders. You will answer to the local Cardinal placed in charge, but feel free to go off on your own if you want. They can't just go and kill you for it, after all."

"...I'll see it done." Without any more need for words, the woman stands.

"Well, you could also ask for me to be put back in charge of trying to torture you to death if that is what you would prefer. ...Tell me, do you even wish for anything anymore?"

"...I wish for every monster like you to just die."

"Haha. Then that means you count in that too, Ciel~"

"..." Ciel only nods before walking out.

---

Author's Notes:

Sorry for the wait; I've been translating volume five of El-Melloi Chronicles. This was a bit of a slow chapter, but it's mostly a pitch for this next arc. I have decided to go all out in writing the rest of this arc as insane as my ideas can manage. This will be an arc exploring El-Melloi, a little douse of FGO, and Tsukihime. I almost had a fight scene here with Shirou but it didn't really work. I think that this is where it is best to start out. I honestly do have so many threads going that it will be a task pulling them all together, but I think I can do it.

Q: This is fucking great. Now, the question here is, is Sakura officially out of the Shiroubowl after that convo in 37 or does best grill still have a chance? Is this going toward a harem ending, or an individual? Is everything going to end in a yandere bloodbath, because it certainly feels like we're headed to a NICE BOAT ending? Even now I can't tell if this is going to end apocalyptically, or even whether it'll be a relatively happy ending after a gorillion trials ala UBW / Fate, or a bittersweet (though somewhat happy-leaning and hopeful) ending like OG HF. Things are so past fubar at this point it isn't even funny and you can't even see canon from here. I don't see an outright tragic ending with how long-running this is, those never feel like there is any payoff for time invested.

A: Of course Sakura is still in Shiroubowl. As we see in this chapter, she is the one who is closest to Shirou, but the things that need to happen for her to progress with him are perhaps the highest. The fact that Shirou loves her makes it harder for her since he doesn't love her in the way that she does, so that makes her too afraid to go to the next level. We've already had plenty of yandere bloodbath, and in my opinion not nearly enough. But Shirou is pretty good with Yanderes so even if one appears like Arcueid, Sakura, Irisviel or Illya, or whoever else, the story won't just end. The ending is something I can't say. It can only be guessed to as of yet.

Now here is the poll on the structure of the HGW. I talk about it a little in the options, but of course, I'd like to hear what people want to see. Right now, I'm really starting to like the idea of having two sets of 6 or 7 servants, which would let me do doubles, and also mean I don't have to force extra classes into the story without them clearly being needed.

Go to my profile at to vote directly.

1 7x7 - The Apocrapha-style war where there are two sides fighting one another. Personally, I don't know about this one because I have no clue as to why there would be a need to ally. It would only make sense if one side was in full control of the Grail, and then the other side was summoned to balance them out.

2 An entirely different idea?

3 Strict 7 summons, standard classes - normal Fuyuki war (this would restrict the story some as we have a lot more master candidates than 7. even if this is what the people want, I can't really write a story under these strict limits. Even FSN didn't respect the rules and just added more servants anyway.)

4 11/12 summons, 7 standard classes + 4/5 extra classes - altered Fuyuki war Now, you'll be asking how I can put in extra classes without ruining the story with stupid classes? Just trust me. It would only be classes that make sense, so no alter egos or anything that would detract from the story. However, there are other styles that support more than seven while not relying on extra classes.

5 Fusion of Strange fake with Fuyuki war? 6/7+6/7 This would probably be the best of both worlds. I have a few good idea about it. Going off the idea of there being a fake/true divide, I would split the war between those who seek the Grail for a wish and then those who would have the Grail as its true purpose of a miracle of the Third Magic.

6 6/7 + 6/7 - Strange/fake. Two wars happening at the same time on top of the other intersecting, and this structure is definitely the most convoluted. It does prevent the overflow of extra classes though. One for a true grail, and one for a fake grail. The true masters are hand-picked especially, and the fake masters can be anyone who even hears about the war at all. I could justify a crazy war like this if that is what the people want. It would require a little bending of the rules and such, and I could just blame Irisviel for making up such an insane system, but I could do it. It would also mean that the war would be ousted as being close to a 'true' fight over the grail than any of the others before it.

Reviews always welcome.