Author's Notes: I own nothing. Familiar of Zero belongs to Noboru Yamaguchi while Fate/Stay Night - Heaven's Failure is a Doujinshi made by Limit Break.
Legend of the Sword Dancer: Song of the Wind
Emilya and Karin slowly moved, Karin was already seeing gaps in Emilya's stance, she made mental notes of where she can strike. During the year they spent together secretly training, Emilya always fought in close quarters. She has seen her use a bow, but that was a training bow long overused.
She raised her wandsword and swung, a strong gust of wind was sent towards Emilya, taking dust and stones flying with it. Emilya however managed to deflect the stones with her swords, before throwing Bakuya. Karin dodged, but would have sent another attack had she not felt the brief shift of wind behind her. Trusting her instincts, she once more dodged and saw the thrown sword flying toward Emilya.
[Haste]
Haste, a spell her tutor Sir Venti taught her. He explained that it was a spell developed by wind mages to quickly travel short distances.
She used [Haste] to quickly closed the gap between her and Emilya, and thrust her wandsword. She was surprised when Emilya parried the attack sending her wandsword to the side and was immediately countering her. She hastily cast a [Gust] spell to dodge, but with her wandsword aimed sideways, she was pushed to the opposite side and made an awkward landing. Looking up, she noticed that Emilya was yet to move from her spot. She grit her teeth and cast a [Wind Cutter] spell, only to be blocked by a physical sword landing between Emilya and the spell.
[Haste]
She once more tried to attack Emilya, this time aiming at another opening, but was once again countered. This time however, she did not react fast enough and Emilya landed a hit. She felt the blunt end of a sword hit her shoulder, and sent her to land on the ground.
"I win." Emilya stated. She was offered a hand to help her up, but she swatted it away.
"It's not over yet." Karin said. "Not until one of us yields."
She swung her sword wand at Emilya, but she had already moved out of the way. She slowly stood up and placed a hand on the area Emilya hit. It hurt a bit, but that was only because Emilya used the blunt end of her sword.
[Wind Cutter]
She cast three simultaneous wind spells towards Emilya, something her tutor was envious of. Wind was her element, and the wind always answers her call. But to her surprise, three swords were sent to block them, each landing between Emilya and her spell. She eyed Emilya, not even out of breath.
"Impossible," Karin thought. "Three transmutations should have tired her out."
[Haste]
Third time's a charm...
She once more closed the distance between Emilya and her, and once more thrust her wandsword, this time she aimed not at her opening. Her wandsword struck steel, as Emilya blocked the attack instead of parrying. She quickly disengaged and struck at another side, her attack was once more blocked. She kept her attack, having Emilya block every move. She kept attacking at different areas, while her [Haste] spell helped her move faster.
"An opening!" Karin thought.
Her last move managed to break Emilya's guard. And she quickly struck, only to be met half-way. Her attack was once more parried, and this time Emilya tripped her before disarming her.
"Yield." said Emilya.
"Never!" Karin snapped.
"Fine." Emilya sighed, before tossing Karin's wandsword towards her. "I yield."
Emilya knew Karin would never yield. The moment she first landed a hit on her, had she used the blade's edge, that counter attack could have cut to render one's shoulder invalid. Karin then stated that the duel is not over until one yields, and once more went for an offensive. She then noticed that Karin was no longer aiming for the openings, instead attacked elsewhere forcing her to block. Every strike was aimed to overpower her guard, until Emilya purposely let her break it. Immediately, she countered the attack and disarmed Karin before asking her to yield.
"You are Father's daughter alright." Emilya thought, she overheard Eileen and Laurence before. She then remembered Eileen's words. "Mother did say it was only a week..."
"Fine." Emilya sighed, before tossing Karin's wandsword towards her. "I yield."
"What!?" Karin yelled. "Denied! I deny your plea."
"I thought that this duel was until one yields?" Emilya asked.
"Yes!" Karin answered. "But not how you did it!"
"Well I yield," Emilya said. "I give up, you win."
Karin didn't reply after that, Emilya took that silence as acceptance and began to walk away dispelling Kanshou and Bakuya. She then stopped, her senses telling her danger is coming. She turned and saw Karin already cast another spell. A strong gust of wind was sent towards her, she narrowly dodged before seeing Karin close the distance between them already mid swing. She quickly traced a mundane long sword before reinforcing strong enough to parry her attack.
"What gives!?" Emilya asked. "Didn't I surrender already?"
"And I denied your plea!" Karin snapped.
Karin then jumped out, leaving some space between them. Emilya could see that her deciding to surrender must have only made her angrier.
"I'm sorry." said Emilya.
[Trace On]
Emilya held out her hand towards Karin, who then shifted raising her guard. Swords then suddenly appeared floating around Karin before shooting towards her. When the dust has cleared, Karin was restrained by the swords. Each sword locking her limbs in place, then another sword was floating aimed towards her. Eileen and Laurence were immediately worried and intervened, only to find out that the weapons were blunt.
"Karin!" Eileen called out, standing between the two duelist.
Karin's head was low, but Emilya could see that she was shaking. Laurence and Eileen intervened, the duel is over. Emilya saw this and quietly left them after she dispelled the swords.
The moment Karin saw her parents intervene, she already knew she lost. When the swords disappeared, she was caught by her father before her mother inspected her for injuries. The only bruise she had was the one on her shoulder, the first hit Emilya landed. She didn't notice she was crying until her mother brushed her face. Eileen was worried for her daughter. Rarely did Karin cry, even when she is hurt, she never cried.
"Karin..." Eileen said. "I'm sorry I didn't notice earlier."
"I am as well my dear." Laurence added.
Karin scanned the area. Emilya had already left, and only the three of them were in the secret training grounds. She stood up and bowed to Laurence and Eileen.
"I am sorry for keeping secrets, father, mother." Karin said.
"I will have to punish you for keeping secrets Karin," Laurence stated. "But first I must know, are you still determined to be a knight?"
"Yes father," Karin answered.
"Then I suppose this training ground will not do." Laurence smiled. "I shall see if we can have this built better."
Karin looked at her father, she must be hearing things. But seeing her father smile proves otherwise. She then slowly looked at her mother who was in deep thought.
"I suppose you can still be a Knight and a Lady at the same time." Eileen said.
She must indeed be dreaming. Emilya must have hit her hard enough to knock her out without realizing...
"You will however apologize to Emilya," Eileen continued. "She may not be your sister by blood, but that is no reason to bring that out."
"But-"
"Karin!" Eileen interrupted with a stern voice.
Karin looked to her father, who was already looking away trying to ignore her. He only does this when Eileen was angry, or didn't want to interrupt Eileen and her methods.
"This isn't a dream!" Karin thought. "It's a nightmare!"
When they have returned inside the manor. Karin immediately went to look for Emilya, she went to her room, however Emilya was not there. She went to ask about her from the head maid Stella, but her only answer was she didn't know.
"I'm sorry young Lady Mailliart," Stella said. "I did not see where she went after she entered the manor."
"I see," Karin replied. "You may proceed with your duties."
Stella bowed before leaving Karin to wonder where Emilya went. She then proceed to the kitchen as Emilya frequently makes her own snacks. Though she would never show it, her snacks taste better than the ones the head chef makes.
"Karin!" her mother called out. "Your afternoon lessons are about to begin."
She will have to continue looking for Emilya later...
When informed by the duel that took place earlier, Sir Venti was both surprised and disappointed. He was surprised that Karin found a way to use the spells he taught her in battle. Disappointed that she used said spells against her sister of all people.
"Karin," Venti sighed. "While the wind is free and unrestrained, there are still things the wind cannot overpower."
"Like metal?" Karin asked.
"Specially metal." Venti replied. "Unlike earth that the wind can erode if it is strong enough, metal is more difficult."
"Metal is harder than stone or crystal, that is why it is used by miners." Venti continued. "True the wind may be able to bend it, but that kind of power can already destroy a house."
"I see," Karin said. "I was already outclassed before the battle began."
"Your sister, like you is special Karin," Venti said. "You are strong, the wind will always answer you. But at the same time, tied to your emotions."
"Sir?" Karin asked.
"When I first taught you," Venti explained. "I noticed that each spell would react differently based on your emotion. [Gust] was stronger but unstable when you were frustrated, but more controlled when you are calm. [Haste] would last longer the more focused you are, but will only be brief when you are sad. I am sure you have noticed this."
"So I must control my emotions if I cast my spell?" Karin asked.
"I am not asking you to control your emotions," Venti replied. "Emotions are a part of us, what I am telling you, is that you can use your emotions to enhance your spells."
If we close your eyes, the voices in our hearts will push us along, and the clouds we're aiming for always lay somewhere higher.
If we strain our ears, the voices in our hearts will overflow and release a dazzling brilliance
And you become a fresh melody!
"Sir?" Karin asked.
"When I was in Albion," Venti said. "I have heard a bard sing about the wind. His composition was loved by the community and was asked to play at a Lords Gala. The Song of the Wind he called it. His song describes the wind similar to our emotions, "the voices in our hearts will push us along" as he has sung."
"I think we must stop for now," Venti smiled. "We've spent enough time discussing about a song and your recent duel than your lessons."
The afternoon was done, but instead of a regular spell, Sir Venti instead showed her a spell he had been working on. He has yet to name the spell, but it's effect were meant for combat, but he lacked the power to sustain it. The spell was similar to a small tornado that pulls everything towards it.
Later that day, an exhausted Karin went to change for the evening. She entered her room, and proceed to wash herself for the evening. Her door opened signifying that one of the maids has entered to assist her. She was assisted to dry herself, and the maid began to change her.
"Thank you," Karin said, as the maid finished her hair. "You may now proceed with your other duties."
"Tending to you is my current duty my lady." a familiar voice said.
Karin turned around and was wide-eyed. Emilya stood there, wearing a maid outfit, complete with a headdress.
"What are you wearing!?" Karin asked.
"I did lose the duel." Emilya smiled.
POST CHAPTER NOTES:
To answer some reviews on the previous chapter:
1. About Shirou knowing Zelretch via Kiritsugu or Rin, well... Kiritsugu's life with Shirou is brief but was never elaborated upon, plus we can assume that he knows the True Magics since the Emiya Family's Specialty Magecraft is "Time Manipulation", and both 2nd and 5th True Magic (Kaleidoscope and Blue respectively) is Time related. As for Rin, Rin had Shirou craft a version of the Jeweled Sword, so we can also assume that she explained the said Sword's purpose.
2. Oh boy I dreaded this chapter... coz in the One-Shot Version the ending of the duel was never revealed.
3. I deleted the old Chapter 6 and had to re-upload coz it was missing for some reason. Sorry.