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: Changing Times
Emilya is sitting inside a carriage with Karin and her Father, en route to Tristain's Academy of Magic. Originally, they were supposed to start a week ago, but since word spread about the possible battle, the school opted to postpone its re-opening for the safety of the students. The ride was somewhat peaceful, but Laurence could feel some sort of tension between Emilya and Karin. He had a feeling that it began when both sisters went missing. He was present in the scolding both received from Eileen when they came home in the dead of night the day Tristain and Albion defeated the Conquistadors. He and Eileen had quite the idea of what the two did, afterall both were training to become Knights.
He was reminded that his wife was a terrifying woman as he remembered that particular night...
()
"And where were you two?" Eileen asked the two as they tried to sneak into the manor.
Both froze like deer caught in headlights when they heard Eileen's voice coming behind them. Both turned their heads to find her sitting on her favorite chair next to the door. In the dimly lit hall, Emilya was able to see her outline wave her wand as the room lit up, her smiling face now visible to both Karin and Emilya.
"Shit-" Emilya cursed as she knew what that kind of smile meant.
"Now Emilya, my dear, a lady should never utter such words." Eileen chastised. "Now why don't you two clean up-"
Karin let out a sigh, but Emilya knew better...
"-is what I would say if I had no idea what you two had done." Eileen finished.
Karin tried to send Laurence a pleading look, but was intercepted by Eileen. Needless to say, Karin added another thing to the list of things she is afraid of. While Emilya, the Holy Grail War Veteran that she is, was once again reminded that her current body is not like the old one.
()
The ride was quite long from the Mailliart Lands, but soon they arrived at their destination, a castle like structure shaped like a pentagon, Tristain Academy of Magic. Once inside Academy Grounds, the three went out the carriage and proceeded to meet with the headmaster. Inside they were greeted by a silver haired man wearing a dark robe.
"Greetings Headmaster Osmond," Laurence greeted. "I am here to drop my daughters off."
"I can see that," Osmond replied. "I already had the maids prepare their respective rooms, your servants can begin moving their belongings."
Laurence looked at his two daughters giving them both a head pat. "You heard the Headmaster, have the servants move your things, and make sure you check if you are missing something."
When the two left the room, Laurence had a serious look on his face. Noticing this, the Headmaster cast a simple wind spell to close the door, and silence the room from eavesdroppers.
"Word from Romalia arrived at the Palace regarding this Staff of Destruction you keep in the Academy Vaults," Laurence began. "They are requesting for Tristain to turn it over to them to avoid another "Conquistador Incident"."
"I have already assured his majesty that none of the staff inside the academy could use it," Osmond said. "True the staff has the power to kill an Elder Dragon, but it would be useless in the hands of those who cannot use it."
"Regardless," Laurence replied. "Romalia wishes for the staff to be in their possession and is willing to offer a sum of money for compensation, word has also reached his Majesty of a "Dragons Rainment" located near Tarbes, and has sent a few Knights and Historians to investigate."
Osmond was in deep thought. With what the stunt Conquistadors pulled, Romalia has become worried of that another group of Nobles encounter another Artifact. Word has already spread what happened a year ago about how a strangely dressed man killed an Elder Dragon with one powerful spell from a strangely shaped staff. While this man had two of them, Osmond buried one with the man, while he kept the other in the Academy Vaults.
"You will only have my word for now," Osmond said. "Once the Palace Messenger visits, I will have the formal letter delivered."
Tarbes was a peaceful town. Normally it would take a few days to travel from Tristania to get there, but King Phillip sent his current fastest flyers to the town. With the current trial for the Griffin Commander and Griffin Knights, most of Tristain's flyers are decommissioned. So he had no choice but to send the current fastest, Sir Marcillac and his Dragon Familiar.
When Arthur and the Historian were welcomed with surprise by the Lord over Tarbes, and he immediately apologized for the current status of the Lords Manor. Arthur merely waved it off, and said that it is not a big deal. The Historian next to Arthur, a blonde haired Instructor of Oriz Magic Academy name Albedo, offered the letter bearing the King's Seal to the Lord of Tarbes.
"This is just a made-up story my Lords," he said as he finished reading the letter. "A tale made up by a farmer's wife who's father died recently."
"I am sure you have heard of what transpired a recently," Albedo said. "Every story has a basis, a farmer's wife cannot make up of a story about a temple with an enshrined dragon inside without anything as a basis."
"I apologize my Lord for the insult." the Lord of Tarbes bowed. "If you would permit, I will personally escort you to the farm of this family."
He then turned to one of his servants. "Should anyone come asking for me, tell them that I have something important to do, and may not be able to entertain them for the day.
"Yes my lord," the servant bowed.
The Lord then changed for his horse riding clothes, and had one of the groundskeepers take some horses from the stables. Arthur politely refused pointing out that he brought his familiar, while Albedo took up the offer, jokingly saying that Arthur's Saddle was quite small. They soon left the Manor and proceed to a farm just outside of Tarbes. They were greeted with an average sized farm house, and the head of the family greeted them.
"Greetings my Lords," the man bowed. "What can this humble servant of Tarbes be of service."
"My guests from Tristania are here to converse with your wife regarding her father." the Lord of Tarbes said. "Bring her here immediately."
"I will have her here immediately." the man said, before bowing and leaving.
The three dismounted, and Albedo created a table set from the soil for them to sit on. Soon, a woman arrived, dressed in a simple farmers dress. She bowed before the three and stood before them.
"Greetings my Lords, what can this servant of Tarbes be of service?" she asked.
"We are here about the "Dragons Rainment"," Albedo said straight to the point.
The woman then turned towards the Lord of Tarbes causing Albedo and Arthur to also turn towards him. With the attention now directed towards him, the Lord of Tarbes now sports a nervous look on his face.
"Are we missing something?" Albedo asked.
"Alright," the Lord of Tarbes sighed. "Her father offered me a large sum of gold he acquired by selling his sword to another Noble, to preserve the Dragon Rainment."
"What can you tell about this sword?" Albedo asked.
"The sword was of a strange curved shape, but the craftsmanship was better than that of Tristania's Blacksmiths." the Lord Replied.
"Strange curved shape?" Albedo asked. "Can I get the name of the Noble the sword was sold to?"
"I have no clue," the Lord admitted. "Her father was not able to get the Noble's name, he only said that the man had blue hair but that is all he shared."
"Can you take us there?" Albedo asked the woman. "To the Dragon's Rainment?"
"Of course my Lords."
The woman told them that the horses are not needed since the temple is quite close to them. After a hike, they arrived at the temple where the "Dragon" was buried. Arthur noticed that it was somewhat inspired by a Japanese Temple, and noticed the gravestone inside.
"A curse?" Albedo asked as he studied the gravestone, his a scroll was already in his and and began to copy the inscription.
While Arthur's Knowledge of the World was because of the Holy Grail before, at least Shirou, and Rin, taught him Japanese when he was Arthuria Pendragon.
"Sasaki Takeo." Arthur thought. "A possible descendant of that Assassin?"
While he knows how to read the gravestone, it would only be problematic if he was to translate it in front of Albedo.
"You are of foreign blood then? This is not any form of runework I know." Albedo concluded, as he finished copying the inscribed words. "How come you have not shared this information to the King, or the Dukes, Lord of Tarbes?"
This time, the Lord of Tarbes turned his head towards the woman. With the message conveyed, the woman held out her hand in a pointing position.
[Gandr]
A bolt of lightning came from her finger and hit the wall. Albedo was surprised that this woman performed Wandless Magic, while Arthur was in deep thought on what to do next. The spell the woman performed was not a lightning spell, rather a weakening curse, Arthur knew of this for he remembered Rin casting it. But what he wondered was why this woman cast it without any focus, as Rin needed Jewels.
"We should proceed inside." the woman said, changing the subject.
"I'm sorry," Arthur interrupted as the Lord of Tarbes and Albedo started to walk. "You have not told us your name."
"M-Maria, my Lord."
They ventured inside the temple, and was shown the Dragon's Rainment. Albedo, immediately began drawing once more, while Arthur walked around it.
"This is no Dragon," Arthur thought. "This is what was known as a "dog-fighter", Iris once asked Kiritsugu to buy her one as a toy."
"Interesting," Albedo mused. "It's made of Metal, but the transmutation is superior, the saddle inside indicates that this must be some type of armor-"
He then began to theorize how a dragon may be able to wear it, and how it would affect it's flight capabilities.
"-I'm sorry if I talked too much," Albedo said after he realized what he had done. "As a Historian this is quite a discovery, and I was just exited."
"I do not mind Sir Albedo," Arthur said. "We have confirmed that the Dragon's Rainment is here in Tarbes, our assignment is done, we should report back to his Majesty."
"Yes of course," Albedo agreed. "I have mapped the route towards here, we will need a group to retrieve this carefully."
Arthur turned a glace at Maria and noticed that she held herself from speaking.
"This is a remembrance of her father." he thought. "She cannot say no to a Noble, but does not want to part with his father's legacy."
He weighted his options before Arthur turned to Maria and the Lord of Tarbes. "You two will come to the Capital as soon as possible."
"Your actions to why you have not reported of a Foreign Dragon Rider settling in Tarbes." Arthur said to the Lord of Tarbes. Hopefully, he could convince the Council that this was just a Dragon's Armor, and have it remain in Tarbes.
"And you, to explain how you are able to cast "magic"." Arthur said to Maria. He knew that it would cause problems for her, but if she is really wants to keep the dog-fighter, she must be presented to the Council of Nobles.
"Of course," Albedo remembered. "A Lightning Mage is rare, and you were able to cast a spell without a focus! How many spells do you know? How many are wandless?"
Maria was taken aback by the questions directed at her. Noticing her discomfort, Arthur placed a hand on Albedo to calm him down.
"You can answer the first two for now." Arthur said. "But be prepared for more once you arrive in Tristania."
"It's the only spell I was taught." Maria replied. "Father said that there was a "Signature Magecraft" of our Family but he was unable to teach me."
"Interesting," Albedo noted. "But why would he teach a Lightning Spell instead of the basics? So many questions I want to ask, but just this one will do for now. Does this "Signature Magecraft" have a name?"
"I apologize my Lords," Maria bowed. "He was also unable to tell me its name."
"I see," Albedo said. "Regardless, make yourself decent and go with the Lord to Tristania."
"Do not worry," Arthur assured. "We will be there as well."
Emilya scanned her new room. The Academy was a boarding school, and it was no surprise that Karin was only next door. It was smaller than her room at the Manor, but it would do. Right now she was sorting her clothes, and uniform. It was mandatory for them to wear a cloak, that indicated their year level, and a brown cloak ment that she was a freshman.
"I can understand the skirt," she said to herself. "But is it really this short?"
She was tempted to get a pair of pants from the male uniform, and alter her skirt, but the fabric that made up the skirt was not enough.
"Note to self, ask for extra fabric and a pair of pants from the male uniform."
POST CHAPTER NOTES:
To answer/reply to some recent reviews:
1. Oh... Archerko, the Counter-Counter Guardian version of Illya. Yeah I have read the few chapters that is available. Also somewhat of an inspiration for the Sword Dancer in the Title of this FanFic.
2. As I have said in the previous chapter, I thought many would consider the (Physically) Weaker Emilya as a nerf on Heaven's Feel Shirou.
Author's Ramblings:
New Arc! Also that's all I have to say...