Author's Note: To those tired of the Sakura/Tohsaka part of the story, they won't completely dominate the fic. This chapter has a lot of explanation and is meant to settle the Tohsaka family arc for now, though they will always play a role. 2004 will be very different because of the ripples this casts. I also removed the two "chapters" of OOC discussion for housekeeping purposes.
There has been extensive feedback on Avalon Nocturne since I asked for input on a new Noble Phantasm, and it has taken an unexpected turn. Many people have since told me to keep Avalon Nocturne and as many people (or more) liked it than initially disliked it, and I've seen a common thread in both sides – it was that Sakura was too powerful compared to Rin and that Rin got the short end of the stick from a storytelling perspective. Also that Sakura was too strong all at once. As such, I took a hard look at Avalon Nocturne and adjusted it to remove the knowledge it gives her of her powers from the onset. What she's done so far is now a result of lessons Morgan has given her over the past year rather than the Noble Phantasm itself, and Sakura still has a way to go. Avalon Nocturne also now lacks Avalon's barrier protection abilities, and will simply empower Sakura's own Magecraft instead while providing the typical healing/anti-aging buff and an anchor to Avalon/Morgan for plot reasons. I find that this all doesn't really change the story thus far while being a sufficient nerf.
Someone also linked me to details of Morgan's legend in response to my request for feedback, where I unexpectedly found a Noble Phantasm that was a perfect fit for Rin while also finding a way to link Avalon Nocturne to Artorian lore more fluidly. You will see it in this chapter. I know I'll never satisfy everyone, nor is that the intent, but this seems like the best balance I can find and flows better overall. Both kids' Noble Phantasms are about relying on the girls' respective Magecrafts to be made stronger to improve their skills over time (while helping them survive the War in the here and now), and Avalon Nocturne needed to be retooled to reflect that. Asking for your input was worthwhile, it just took me in a direction I never expected. Other recommendations will be saved for possible future use. See the end of the chapter for the new (and far lighter) details on the scabbard and on Rin's Noble Phantasm. I've also included data on the Mystic Eyes that the kids now have.
I'd meant to reveal it in later chapters, as well as the coming Tohsaka family dynamic, but it seems like both are necessary now. Watch for Rin and Sakura's place in the Tohsaka Family being explained in this chapter.
People have asked about why Avalon Nocturne was not named 'Avalon Morgan' like Excalibur Morgan. The reason is that Excalibur Morgan was focused more on 'evil shadow' while Avalon Nocturne is more a 'hope-filled shadow'. The latter does not carry a connotation of evil. They also wonder why Sakura didn't have a dagger like Morgan's as a Noble Phantasm instead of the scabbard. First, the scabbard was based on an amended version of the plan to save Shirou and never has to leave her physical body. Second, the dagger "Erosion" that Morgan has is better suited to someone like Zouken or Francois Prelati than it would be Sakura. Early drafts had Sakura receiving Carnwennan instead, but Artoria and Shirou needed it.
Sir Gewen Baudelaire: Sakura's abilities actually will be Dark Sakura's powers, just powered by Avalon Nocturne instead of the corrupted Grail plus some age management stuff. As for the focus on the characters, it will change back to Shirou and Artoria soon.
Josnacio: I am going to have to be very careful how I write Mordred and Shirou, both for pacing and for content. I want it to be right.
kemb92: The Tohsaka have been a bit of a focus, but Shirou and Artoria will be returning to prominence soon. As for Kirei, he's not so much redeemed yet as his possible fall or salvation being postponed. Things are yet on the table there. As for Rin, she's bratty because she's a little kid who has been raised to be prideful. That will also be dealt with.
Carnwennan works like a weaker version of Rule Breaker. It does not destroy Magic Circuits. The reason Sola-Ui thinks that she won't be able to recover Kayneth's crest is that she expects it to have burnt up with Kayneth's body in the Tohsaka Mansion's blaze. As of right now, Sola-Ui doesn't even know Carnwennan exists because she wasn't able to see through Mordred's eyes when it was in play. She thinks Kayneth was stabbed with a random blade and is more focused on Caliburn.
Berserker Hercules works best with a compatible Master like Illya. He also remembers the various permutations of the Fifth Holy Grail War just like Rider does. He was not pleased with his current Master and was fighting within the bounds of what Madness Enhancement will allow. He had been made to hold back from the battle to regenerate lost lives, and he obliged...even when the battle came to him.
Chapter 14: Regroup
November 14, 1994
Emiya Residence
120 hours and 12 minutes to Zero
It was almost six in the morning when Saber Artoria arrived at the Emiya Residence. She and EMIYA had been moving around the city for hours destroying the tentacled monsters that Caster had unleashed, though EMIYA had returned ahead of her. It had to be the two of them on clean-up duty because they had finer control of their long-range and area attacks than the other Servants. Artoria clenched her fist in irritation over Caster's escape, even as she leapt onto and over the outer wall of the residence that she'd come to know well during the Fifth Holy Grail War. Iskandar had elected to stay behind to protect his Master, alongside Lancer Artoria who helped protect everyone else. After all, the Rider from the Fifth Holy Grail War was now involved and knew where their safe house was. Friend or foe, someone might come looking for them.
On her arrival in the front yard, Artoria took a moment to observe the familiar sight. It looked much the same, aside from needing repairs and having Lancer Artoria's horse Dun Stallion and Iskandar's bulls drinking from a trough in the yard. Before she could attempt to pat her counterpart's mount, she heard the shed door shut and took note of Irisviel walking away from the shed toward the house. "Ah, Saber!" Irisviel exclaimed happily on seeing her.
"Hello, Irisviel...are there any status changes?" Artoria asked in the woman's native German. The white-haired woman understood completely what Artoria was inquiring.
"Well, Professor Velvet has de-summoned due to the time limit on Rider's Reality Marble. It couldn't be helped, really. I also just left the Magic Circle from monitoring the other groups. Our Familiars near the Church have observed no changes since the Tohsaka family, Kirei Kotomine, and their Servants arrived. The Familiars outside the Edelfelt Estate still see Shirou resting comfortably through a bedroom window with Mordred seated at the foot of his bed. A piece of paper has been placed by the window asking us to contact Mordred's new master to discuss him and guarantees his safety provided no one attacks. Kiritsugu says that the reason they're showing him through a window is to let us see that he is still unharmed." Artoria nodded at Irisviel's words. The fact that Shirou was relatively safe was the only reason that Artoria could exterminate the monsters Caster had summoned instead of challenging Mordred immediately.
"Also, Kiritsugu has decided to try to explain the situation to Miss Fujimura. I...was sent out to monitor the Familiars when my efforts to prove Magecraft real left her too frightened to continue discussions." Artoria wasn't sure exactly what Irisviel could have done to frighten Taiga so thoroughly, though Irisviel appeared to feel a little guilty.
"Well, let us see how they are doing," Artoria recommended as she went toward the house with Irisviel.
On entering, Artoria took in the scene. Sella had taken advantage of EMIYA's absence to entrench herself in the kitchen to make breakfast, much to the Archer's apparent displeasure. Kiritsugu and Waver were sitting next to each other at the table, the former half-regretting not hypnotizing Taiga after all. Iskandar was using his link with Waver to translate in real-time for the Clock Tower student, as the Master did not know Japanese. Across from Kiritsugu and Waver was Taiga. She had an empty plate in front of her, a deadpan expression on her face, and a wireframe bird on each of her shoulders. The children were asleep elsewhere in the estate with Lancer Artoria watching over them. Kariya was also asleep, still resting from his near-death experience. The living room had additional damage compared to when Artoria had first regrouped with the others here, with Torashinai impaled in one of the walls. Taiga gave Irisviel a frustrated glance and caused the typically likable albino woman to almost flinch away in response.
"...I have returned. Again, I am very sorry, Fujimura-san. I did not mean to startle you with my birds." At Irisviel's words, everything made sense to Artoria. Irisviel tried to prove the existence of Magecraft with these shining wire familiars, only for Taiga's fight or flight response to be triggered. The result was predictable.
"Just get them off of me. I don't want to find out if wire birds can poop on my shoulders." Taiga responded tersely, after which Irisviel recalled the artificial avians. Afterward, Taiga gave everyone in the room a suspicious glare. "So...some sort of two-hundred-year-old deathmatch between wizards is happening, and you just expect me to stay quiet about it? The kind of thing that Grandpa and the family will want to stop?" The girl went from deadpan to yelling in almost the blink of an eye. "And what about you, 'Archer'? You told me you were hunting that killer because he attacked your younger relative, but it's pretty obvious that was a lie! I can see from the sleigh and beard that Rider is Santa and his Elf, but who are you?" Waver sputtered at the misinterpretation, while Iskandar simply met it with a hearty laugh.
EMIYA glanced away from his silent critique of the dish Sella was preparing and took note of Artoria's arrival. The woman looked at him a question in her eyes. He sighed, knowing that saying too much would make her even more suspicious...but that it also couldn't be avoided any longer. "Listen, Fujimura-san." The man spoke, gaining an eyebrow raise from the girl at the proper address rather than calling her 'kid'. "Heroic Spirits are fully capable of having surviving relatives in the here and now. Lancer and both Sabers share at least one family member that's currently alive, even though the three of them are from 1500 years ago. One like me from the near future can easily have a relative in the here and now."
"...Time travel? You're seriously going with that?" Taiga asked while Artoria's eyes started to widen in realization.
EMIYA knew Artoria's expressions well and could practically see the gears turning in her head as the King of Knights arrived at a conclusion. She had too many hints now not to realize the truth. "Mine is a very strange situation, but it is possible. Servants' souls are stored outside of normal space and time. Older legends are usually stronger and more commonly called on, but I get around that by being someone who can copy and use older legends' weapons against them. Some of them find me infuriating." EMIYA gave a smirk at that, knowing that the kendo girl agreed.
"You don't need to worry though. The boy and I are like night and day, and he's still got a good shot at avoiding becoming anything like me. Though...I do have some bad news about him for the Grail-aware here." EMIYA volunteered, to Taiga's relief and Artoria's concern respectively.
"What sort of news?" Artoria inquired with concern.
"Remember when he looked at the Third Holy Grail War's broken Lesser Grail over at the Church?" EMIYA asked, only for Artoria to nod. "Well, turns out that he copied it with his eyes to a sufficient degree to integrate that functionality to his soul. He's absorbed Boudica and taken on the duties of the Lesser Grail of this War."
Taiga didn't understand any of it. Iskandar and Waver only knew what was explicitly stated and wondered how it was possible. The others in the room understood what EMIYA truly meant. Shirou had integrated the Lesser Grail into his Reality Marble. Irisviel, who possessed memories of being a Lesser Grail, was absolutely horrified.
"Granted, it's in his soul rather than in his physical body. His soul has protections against corruption similar to those of the scabbard...but I can't really say what the long-term consequences of this will be." EMIYA warned, glad that the scabbard was that which the boy's Reality Marble was reforming around and they thus shared some properties. Could it be enough to prevent the corruption of the Greater Grail from claiming him? Could the scabbard itself protect him if his soul wasn't as immune to All the World's Evils as hoped? It had worked before, but not in this exact situation.
"How do you know this, Archer?" Artoria inquired, drawing a very light sigh from EMIYA. She would ask a difficult question such as that. EMIYA looked toward Iskandar and Waver as if to measure their likelihood of betrayal.
Kiritsugu understood without even a word and approached Waver Velvet. "Mister Velvet...I would like to remind you that we are speaking about my son at the moment. I trust you won't betray our trust by speaking of what you are about to hear?" The Magus Killer's stern expression was enough to force a response without even resorting to threats.
"O-of course I won't! I don't see any reason to talk about your son, and it's clear my future self trusts you all. Besides, there's no going back at this point. Not if we're going against the Matou and the Einzberns..." Waver's words proved to be the answer EMIYA was waiting for, so the ex-Counter Guardian looked at Artoria while pondering how to parse his response.
"Simply put, Merlin salvaged my Spirit Origin and grafted it to your Master's soul while the boy was still in the womb. I was to act as a mentor of sorts once his Magic Circuits woke up. Merlin didn't ask my permission, but it's better than being a Counter Guardian. I'm constantly watching Shirou's soul from inside so I knew right away when the Lesser Grail functionality appeared, but I never expected it to activate. I had thought that the job of Lesser Grail was taken this time around." Irisviel looked down on hearing EMIYA's words, feeling both relieved that she was no longer this War's Lesser Grail and guilty that the child had taken the duty. EMIYA kept speaking on the matter. "When he took the Lesser Grail into himself, it became possible for me to use it to manifest as a Servant. Since you were protecting Shirou well, I decided to make contact with Kiritsugu and Irisv-" A sad glance from Irisviel made EMIYA change his words mid-sentence, "...my parents. Protecting Illya became my primary goal, and becoming an unknown Servant that could act in the shadows seemed like a good idea. Merlin gave my parents their memories of the other timeline before I even contacted them and Illya got an edited set of memories so she could remain a child without the trauma." Irisviel's spirits rose once more at the correction, even if only a little.
"Wait, that would mean this kid is supporting two Servants right now, one of them being one of the most powerful Servants there is! Do you think he could sustain you after the War without the Greater Grail once he's fully grown?" Waver asked, eyes wide. The idea of a person having access to a Servant even outside the War was a disturbing one...
EMIYA wouldn't have answered in most cases, but he knew the sort of person Waver was. He was not a typical Magus and knew when to keep a secret. He also preferred to stay honest and not stab his allies in the back. Hopefully, the Clock Tower student would remain an ally over the years. "The Greater Grail didn't have anything to do with my summoning this time to begin with. All the pieces needed for me to manifest are integrated into the kid's soul, and our...compatibility has made the process pretty energy-efficient as a Master/Servant relationship goes. It also means that I can simply be re-summoned if I'm ever killed, with my complete memory. The kid just needs enough prana to do it. This is a life-long deal. Maybe longer if he finds a way to load it all into a Magic Crest and pass me on to his kids or something." EMIYA's words made Waver's and Artoria's eyes widen.
Iskandar simply smirked before speaking. "I must admit to being envious, Archer. You have received my own wish in a way, another chance at life, and all you have to do is see to the safety of your kin. A shame he was taken from you, though."
EMIYA responded promptly to the good-natured taunt, rubbing the back of his head in a measure of frustration. "That's a bigger problem than you know. I've already seen what can happen if he's left by himself too long. He has too much of a hero complex. Knowing him, he'll be trying to save Mordred somehow. It's probably why he didn't call for your help with a Command Seal, Saber. That or he wanted to save you the pain of meeting her in battle. Either-or," EMIYA commented to the King of Knights, who couldn't help but agree. The look on her face was one of resolve as she came to a decision.
"Archer, may we speak privately? There are...personal details from the Fifth Holy Grail War that I would not discuss in front of others without your consent." Artoria inquired of the man, who had been dreading this discussion. EMIYA gave a brief nod and walked outside with the blonde to get out of earshot. Arriving in the yard and watching the morning sun just start to peek out over the horizon, Artoria began to speak. "Archer, your food tastes like Shirou's. You call Kiritsugu your father, though I know that the man perished with only one son. Finally, you bear a similar power to Shirou's own. Tell me...who are you?"
EMIYA knew this was coming, but had no idea how Artoria would respond. There was nothing left to tell but the truth, though. "My true name is Counter Guardian EMIYA. In life, I was Shirou Emiya and a Master of Artoria Pendragon during the Fifth Holy Grail War." Artoria's eyes widened ever so slightly in surprise that her suspicions were correct. "The war differed from the one you know, however. Rin's Servant in that war was a second Gilgamesh. He and the Gilgamesh from the Fourth Holy Grail War essentially took each other out. For the war you were in, history changed the moment Rin summoned me with her pendant instead of summoning that second Gilgamesh with the Tohsaka family's catalyst. Illya recognized me at some point after I died fighting Berserker, so the family and Lancer this time around learned the truth when she told them." EMIYA laid the facts bare before waiting for the King of Knights' response. Artoria inhaled slightly more sharply than he expected at the revelation, restraining herself from hasty word or action. She was a much more emotive woman than he remembered her being, at least if one knew her mannerisms and approached certain topics. Shirou Emiya was among those topics.
"I see. What happened to make you like this...Shirou?" Artoria asked, the beginnings of grief showing on her face when one knew where to look.
"My Saber couldn't let go of her ideals. She went back to Camlann without being saved. I protected as many people as I could for the rest of my days, eventually allying myself with Alaya. It was a foolish mistake that made me kill anything the World deemed a threat. Untold years of that makes a man bitter." Artoria was silent, but EMIYA knew that every word he said was being listened to with her full attention. "The same thing almost happened to you. You couldn't save your Shirou either at first. The difference between us is that instead of making a stupid decision like I did, you stopped at the brink and found another way. I wound up being saved in the process, so don't grieve for me. Think of me as a future that is no longer possible, or even as a completely different person. Just keep calling me Archer."
"She couldn't let herself love you back," Artoria noted...it wasn't a question, but rather an observation. "...Archer, I'm sor-"
"Don't," EMIYA said while raising a hand to stop her. "She had a right not to feel anything for me, and you're not her anyway. Apologies aren't necessary or even yours to give. Just focus on what you can change." After this, the man crossed his arms and spoke no further. Noting that the conversation had ended, Artoria was silent as well. The pair stood watching the rising sun in quiet camaraderie.
There was much for them both to reflect on.
Abandoned Factory
120 hours to Zero
Had things gone normally in the Fourth Holy Grail War, this particular abandoned factory would house a freshly crippled Kayneth El-Melloi, his fiance, and their Lancer-class Servant Diarmuid Ua Duibhne. Differences, however, drew a different Master and Servant pair to this location instead. Gilles de Rais used Prelati's Spellbook alongside a Magic Circle on the concrete floor to take stock of what they had left of their energy collection network. A bored Ryuunosuke was reading a medical book by the day's first light, though not for the reasons one might expect.
"It seems that we can still collect energy, Ryuunosuke, but only from my own Familiars and the circles that have already been placed. The worms of our late ally are no longer connected to the system. A pity, truly. We will need time to recover what energy we have lost. All because of that golden interloper and that lilac-haired woman!" Caster exclaimed, finding essentially what he had expected.
Ryuunosuke empathized with the mad Caster to a degree, but there wasn't much they could do. "Don't worry, big guy. We'll get another shot at meeting your girl." The serial killer turned the page of the medical book. "Huh, so that's where the gallbladder is...I've been thinking. I love painting stuff in blood, but maybe I could try using bile, too. Then I could paint with more colors, you know? I mean, sure, blood's great, but people have to have all sorts of fluids and junk. I want to paint the whole rainbow." Ryuunosuke's words made Caster smile. Ah, his Master truly knew what to say.
"It is true that we must hide for the moment, Ryuunosuke, but I promise you we will find ingredients for our new canvas soon enough. Leaving the walls of our new abode bare would be a crime against your art!" At Gilles' promise, Ryuunosuke returned the madman's smile.
"My, my. This brings back memories of better times!" A voice called out to the group from a shadow in the corner of the room, previously unobserved. Ryuunosuke's eyes widened on realizing the intrusion, snapping toward that corner.
"H-hey, big guy. I thought you said no one could get in without you knowing..." Ryuunosuke said in concern. Gilles, however, did not respond. He was too busy trying to place the familiar voice that had called out to them.
"An illusionist like me can easily slip into something this hastily made, Master of Caster! Well, unless insect familiars are watching. I can't trick their eyes. It is why I haven't been able to come help sooner. Zouken Matou would have killed this latest body, just like he did last time! Even as similar as we are, he just can't tolerate someone like me. I guess I understand why, though." Stepping into the light of dawn, the young man smiled casually at the pair. Gilles' eyes widened in recognition. The flesh may have changed, but there was no mistaking the Magus with whom he had committed his most heinous acts as Bluebeard. The newcomer gave a flamboyant and playful bow, smiling as he greeted the pair. "Nice to meet you! I'm Francois Prelati, the original scribe of the tome my friend and patron holds. It has been a long time, Gilles! It's nice to meet you, Ryuunosuke!"
"It's you! Francois, my dear friend! Oh, to meet you as well! Have you been summoned into this War like Jeanne and me?" Gilles was quite pleased, any alarm wiped away as he reunited with the Magus with whom he had slain hundreds of children in France after Jeanne's death.
Francois could have tried to clear up the misunderstanding and reason with his old friend but felt no need. The smile on the reincarnated Magus' face got just a little wider, finding the misidentification to be one more entertaining detail in the War. Besides, insanity had its own appeal. "No, I came here the long way around. Changing bodies every now and then through the centuries, you know. I might have to change bodies again sometime soon. I'm thinking about being a girl next time or the time after. It can be fun for a change of pace." Francois then glanced to Ryuunosuke, maintaining his smile. "Speaking of fun, I see you found a fun Master! Of course, it'd have to be someone like this to summon you without a Catalyst. Your body count's as high as ours was in Champtocé-sur-Loire!"
"So you're a friend of the big guy? Well nice to meet you! We should go kill something to celebrate!" Ryuunosuke extended a hand, which was vigorously shaken by the fellow madman.
"Heh! I see you're not someone who dwells on right or wrong. You just see what you want and go for it! Simple, but refreshing!" Francois was entertained by the honest insanity of this man. Indeed, the world of Mages was one of posturing and the occasional backstabbing. By contrast, Ryuunosuke was a breath of fresh air. It helped that the young man's idea of entertainment lined up with Francois' own. "It's a shame that we can't do that right now. All the more interesting kids are protected right now and Gilles needs time to recharge. Besides, I'm having to conceal our location not only from the others in this War but from my teachers as well. You attacked a kid they liked and they sent 'Jeanne' to protect him when she otherwise wouldn't have come this time. Now they're defending their investment and have turned everything in this War on its head."
This was far more interesting than a normal Grail War. Francois wasn't interested in making a wish on a Grail that was corrupted and would destroy mankind, but he couldn't help but feel an urge to meddle. After all, Morgan and Vivian had killed him once after they disapproved of how he used their teachings. It was only fair to have some fun at their expense. The thought of seeing the look on Artoria Pendragon's face when her 1500-year-old plan failed to save that boy made Francois positively giddy. "Oh, I so look forward to teaching you the joys of 'manipulating' the mind and soul as well when the time comes. Torturing the flesh is only the beginning, Ryuunosuke!"
Gilles couldn't help but be immensely pleased. After all, two of his three favorite people in the World were here with him. His mood briefly soured when he interpreted this pleasure as more proof that he, who sinned in defiance of God, had not yet been properly judged by God. This was only a momentary displeasure in the face of their happy reunion, however.
Unknown Location
119 hours and 48 minutes to Zero
As Tokiomi's eyes opened and focused, he noted that he was lying on fresh grass. Dawn peeked over the horizon in a place that was untouched by man with the exception of a single tower. A pillar of light rising up into the summer sky was also visible, radiant and without equal in the Age of Man. The area around him was saturated with prana. He idly wondered if he had died and been recycled into the Root.
"Welcome, Tokiomi Tohsaka," a voice called out to seize his attention. Sitting up and looking to the source, Tokiomi saw a woman in a black dress and veil seated under a tree. She held a black and purple scabbard and was clearly a Magus. Rin and Sakura were present as well, Sakura clearly comfortable with their circumstances and trying to calm down a nervous Rin. "Worry not, you are all merely asleep at the Fuyuki Church. This is the dreamscape in which I routinely communicate with Sakura, and you were all able to attend due to your close proximity and my consent. Your Servants are both able to listen in via your link with them, and the Kotomine are both awake and tending to their duties normally. Rin and Sakura had a basic description of the Holy Grail War and its current state given to them by Risei Kotomine before joining you in sleep."
"That's right!" Sakura said, smiling happily. "This is Auntie Morgan! She's my friend!"
"Morgan?" Tokiomi asked, looking at the woman and starting to suspect who she might be.
"Yes. I am Morgan le Fay; patron of Sakura Tohsaka, the elder sister of Artoria Pendragon with whom you are allied, and the mother of Mordred Pendragon who has kidnapped Shirou. Thankfully, the boy is currently in no danger. Mordred is more confused than anything else. Her current Master, Sola-Ui Nuada-Re Sophia-Ri, knows she has little chance of victory and will likely seek to bargain." Part of that information made Tokiomi relax slightly. Shirou had been saved, as had his children. He still didn't understand how Sakura had been rescued from the Matou though. The father then recalled part of Morgan's introduction.
"Patron? Does that have anything to do with why Sakura is no longer with the Matou?" Tokiomi inquired, fearful that Sakura had agreed to something in exchange for aid. Making a deal with a powerful entity was something to avoid unless the Magus was on the stronger end of the negotiating table and knew fully what they were doing.
"Yes, but not for the reasons you may fear. She owes me nothing." Morgan understood Tokiomi's worries rather plainly and resolved them first and foremost. "Sakura's story is disturbingly similar to my own, you see. She too is a sister eclipsed by her sibling to the point of being sent away from the family as part of her father's machinations. Left alone, she would have suffered immensely for ten more years. By the time of the Fifth Holy Grail War, she would be on the verge of a psychotic break just as Zouken intended. Your daughters would inevitably have fought were that break to occur. It was too late for me by the time I reached that point with Artoria in our time, no matter how much I may regret it...but I see no reason to let that tale play out anew with your daughters. Perhaps it was initially done on a whim, but Sakura has admittedly grown on me." Morgan gave a small but earnest smile that was met by Sakura's own.
"Such an understatement," a teasing male voice called out and immediately caused Morgan to school her expression. A certain incubus stepped forward, very pleased with his timing. "Morgan needed Sakura as much as the reverse. She simply did not realize it until they met properly. Why, the fear of rejection that Morgan bore when her sins were confessed to Sakura was more palpable than the prana in the air!" Morgan wanted to yell at the man but restrained herself. Rin raised an eyebrow and regarded the man with a first impression of 'hopeless, irresponsible adult', but she held her tongue due to her father's presence and the need for poise that he preached.
Sakura was ignorant of these trains of thought. "Hi, Uncle Merlin!" The girl called, waving while identifying the man as one of the most powerful Mages in history. Rin did a double-take, very glad that she had held her tongue.
"Hello, Sakura. Do you like the Servant we sent you?" Merlin asked the child. This was the first Tokiomi had heard of a Servant. A glance at his daughters' hands confirmed his fears. They both bore Command Seals.
"Yes! Rider's nice and says she was my friend during the Fifth Holy Grail War that Saber's from! Riding Pegasus was fun, too! Did you send Archer to Rin?" Sakura asked, wondering if they had helped there too. Rin looked to the strangers in confusion.
Merlin smiled more widely and responded to Sakura. "We timed it so that she received a Servant as well, but it should have been a normal summoning. Our guest, however, decided to lend some extra energy and send her own champion. It seems that she has her own plan to piggyback off of our own." Merlin's explanation satisfied Sakura while also giving Tokiomi a warning with that last sentence. 'We may be benign, but we can't say the same about this newcomer'.
"Ah! You're talking about me!" A white-haired and blue-eyed woman in a white and red dress stated, interjecting herself into the conversation where she hadn't been noticed before. "Don't make me or Atalanta sound weird! I just thought it was interesting to send a Champion of my own there too! Besides, Atalanta loves helping kids! She's a good girl!"
"Oh? Did you not say that you had a plan for Shirou that you were withholding from us, Lady Artemis? Heroes chosen by the gods rarely find themselves permitted to live happy lives." Merlin asked, making Tokiomi balk. Now a Divine Spirit was also manipulating the War? What were things coming to?
Artemis stepped back in surprise, collecting herself before she bristled up and stood firm with an angry pout. "N-no! It isn't like that! I want Artoria to be happy, I just need to borrow Shirou's power later to do stuff! It's not even fighting...probably...besides, Atalanta would sooner protect Shirou than hurt him. She'd protect all the kids from the War and put aside her wish once told the truth about the Grail's corruption! That's why I picked her!" Artemis crossed her arms and smiled at her choice, feeling it to be the most intelligent call. "Maybe the girl's Servant might have been a better match for her personality if I left her summoning alone, but Atalanta was the best match for the situation."
Rin was a bit confused, but she was relieved that everyone was safe and that Shirou was alive. The twin-tailed girl approached the strange group and, calling on her etiquette, gave a bow of gratitude. "Thank you all for helping Sakura. I don't understand everything you've been saying, but...I've missed her." This muted admission revealed emotions that her father had warned against showing to others in the past, but he'd broken his own rules...so it was okay for her to do it too now, right?
Sakura moved quickly and embraced Rin firmly at the latter's simultaneously refined and clumsy confession of sisterly feelings, which prompted Rin to hug back. A glance from Rin at her smiling father showed that he did not disapprove of her actions, and the various powers present also seemed to be glad for the thanks given their expressions. Morgan in particular was glad that Rin said those words. "I am pleased that you feel that way, Rin. The last thing I desired was for there to be strife between you and your sister like there was between me and my own."
Glad that Rin wasn't latching onto his mistake of rejecting Sakura, Tokiomi decided to carry the conversation forward. "So both of my children have Servants, Shirou was kidnapped by Mordred Pendragon and has been earmarked by one of the most powerful of Divine Spirits for some unknown task, and Sakura has the affection and patronage of Morgan le Fay. Is there anything else I should be made aware of while the opportunity is here?" Tokiomi dared to ask, in hopes of helping everyone get back on the same page. One could have interpreted sarcasm in his words, but there was none.
Merlin shrugged and began to speak. "Well, there is the fact that both of your children love Shirou in the future but were unable to say so to him for two whole years. That and the boy was too dense to notice feminine interest. Honestly, the first sign he noticed that Sakura's interest was not platonic was when she disrobed and-" Previously silent and allowing the others to speak, Vivian introduced herself to the conversation when she used a water spell to will a large blob of water to form around Merlin's head. This had the intended effect of preventing him from talking...or breathing. A sheaf of arrows also struck Merlin true in the chest and torso from Artemis' freshly called upon bow, her expression promising bloodshed for the trespass. It was a shame that this was merely a dream and didn't really cause him distress. At least the children were too young to understand what had just been spoken, though it certainly gave Tokiomi something to think about.
Morgan glared at Merlin while she contemplated setting the remainder of him from the neck down on fire, but she soon chose to continue speaking instead to avoid traumatizing the children. "I am certain that was not what Mister Tohsaka meant. After all, those particular futures will no longer come to pass. There are several other more pertinent facts for him to be made aware of." Morgan's words made Tokiomi pay careful attention. "After your arms were severed in battle, Zouken's familiars dragged them off to his Workshop. He extracted the Command Seals for himself, seized control of Gilgamesh, and also used his connection with Kariya Matou to do the same to him remotely. Boudica is gone, replaced by Hercules due to a summoning trick he employed to re-summon a strong Servant from a weaker one's Spirit Origin. Kariya Matou was supposed to be killed in the process due to the energy cost destroying his Crest Worms and crippling his body, but Artoria used Avalon to heal him. He is free of the Crest Worms and, though not a Master anymore, should live a full life span. He is currently in the care and protection of the alliance made by Waver Velvet and the Einzbern Master's group as a guest."
Sakura was sad that Boudica was gone, but she had been prepared for the possibility within the bounds of what a young child could understand. She was 'just visiting', as Boudica had put it, and didn't know when she'd have to go away suddenly. At the very least her Uncle Kariya was better.
Tokiomi seemed to have thoughts on the matter as well, ones he gave voice to. "Kariya may have been a rival for my wife's affections before my marriage, but he has always accepted her choice and loves my daughters as if they were his own. I will have to think of a way to repay him for supporting Sakura after all is said and done. The loss of Archer and Berserker to Zouken is a harsh blow that needs to be dealt with first, though."
Morgan nodded in agreement before continuing. "Yes. Though the Tohsaka Family now has Medusa as Second Rider and Atalanta as Third Archer, Zouken's Servants are of a higher caliber. That is not the full extent of events, however." She had the group's undivided attention even as Merlin finally used a fire spell to evaporate the water around his head so he too could listen to Morgan's words. "After he claimed your Command Seals, Zouken tossed your arms into the worm pit with Sakura. He stated that the arms would be consumed along with the Tohsaka Crest by the worms and for her to hurry if she ever wanted to be hugged by those arms again. It was a cruel taunt that pushed her to grab and cling to those arms futily as they were consumed, but it did permit me to remotely transfer the Tohsaka family's Magic Crest in its entirety to Sakura along with the other Magic Circuits in your arms. I also transformed the Crest Worms within her body, which I had been carefully directing the locations of for the past year, into true Magic Circuits. Zouken no longer has power over Kariya or Sakura, and Sakura is so close to the Fae in form that she could now be classified as such."
"How?" Tokiomi asked in shock. He was elated that the Tohsaka Crest survived, but that made no sense. "How could you have been able to do such a thing from so far away without being physically present?"
Morgan paused for a moment to parse her explanation so that the man could understand. "I have been aware of Sakura's plight for 1500 years, as well as Rin's struggling between her love for her sister and the obligation placed upon her as a Magus to turn Sakura away. They are fundamentally 'good' people...people who will need power and guidance to be saved and to continue to accept each other in defiance of Mage society. As such, I have repurposed and upgraded some Mystic Codes I previously used against my sister for the girls' use as 'Second Stage' Artorian-era Noble Phantasms. Sakura's Noble Phantasm has, among other attributes, regenerative abilities explicitly designed to direct and eventually transform Zouken's Crest Worms into her own supplemental Magic Circuits."
Tokiomi's eyes widened as the woman lifted up the black and purple scabbard for his inspection. "This has been hidden in Sakura's body since before her birth. Sakura's gift is the scabbard Avalon Nocturne, based on Artoria's version of Avalon and remodeled from the false version she used in the battle against Sir Accolon. Instead of being empowered by the light of this land's day and having a powerful barrier like the original scabbard, this is empowered by the shadows of its night alongside the land's intrinsic hope and is intended to be used as a power source for Sakura's own Magecraft. For an Incarnation of Imaginary Numbers like Sakura, who may yet employ such Shadow-based Magecraft to a greater proficiency than virtually anyone else alive, it is a powerful tool. It carries healing and age-regulation capabilities as well, having optimized her flesh and given her both Glam Sight: Fairy Eyes and Mystic Eyes of Hollow. It also protected her soul from Zouken's alterations and is what allows us to communicate here and now." What Morgan did not mention is that she knew what Sakura could do from the data she had on Dark Sakura, and this scabbard was tailored to let her reach that point without corruption should she train herself. She had already taught Sakura the basics of using her Shadow Ribbons and how to use small Shadow Familiars before now, but far more would await her down the road. Why would Sakura need Avalon's protective barrier if she could simply use her ribbons or dip into Imaginary Number Space for defense once properly trained? No, Sakura's own skills would be what made her formidable. This scabbard just gave her the needed power to draw from without relying on a corrupted Grail.
Before Tokiomi could respond, Morgan looked to his eldest child. "Rin, please come here. I have something for you as well. A boon for retaining your love for your sister that I give in hopes that you stay by her side." Rin was still nervous, but Sakura gently gave her a push. The twin-tailed heiress of the Tohsaka approached, and Morgan pulled a bundle out of the scabbard that unfolded into a cloak. Crafted from gold and silver thread and studded with gemstones, the cloak visibly shrunk from one meant for a full-size adult to one suitable for a child. Morgan placed it over Rin's shoulders, the girl realizing that it was comfortably warm and fit her perfectly.
"This is the Jeweled Cloak of Morgan. I made it 1500 years ago to attack my sister in wrongful anger, but it has been transformed into a Noble Phantasm for you and your successors should you choose to pass it on. The gems it carries house Fire Magecraft. However, it is currently incomplete." Morgan's words made Rin look at her in confusion. "The rubies housing Fire Magecraft cannot be removed, but there are many gems on the cloak that can be exchanged for others if you or your successors will it. You will study the Tohsaka Magecraft, learn how to impart your own knowledge into gemstones with it, and install them into the cloak. Enhance it over the years with your best skills and refine your work constantly. Make its power grow in step with your skill and knowledge. In this way, it will truly become the Noble Phantasm of the Tohsaka Family."
"R-really? Thank you, Miss...Mrs...Auntie Morgan! I'll do my best!" Rin said happily, deciding to discard decorum in exchange for her sister's term of endearment for the woman. After all, she didn't even know how to address her and it was growing more clear to the child that poise had its place...and this wasn't it.
Tokiomi was wide-eyed. Morgan le Fay had used knowledge of the future to take Mystic Codes with the potential to become Noble Phantasms of Artorian legend and modified them to fit the strengths of his daughters for use in the modern age. There were so many ways that should have been impossible. The idea of taking advantage of legends to intentionally create a Noble Phantasm over centuries was something that the Mage's Association would have considered a pipe dream, but here it was. She had even made Rin's a programmable Noble Phantasm by taking advantage of the mechanics of the Tohsaka Magecraft. They surely weren't the most powerful armaments at the moment...but that wasn't the point. Their true worth would become evident as his daughters' skills grew. That was the intent. To strengthen them for what would yet come.
It was then that Tokiomi remembered something Morgan had said before that lacked elaboration, though he had to be sure to show proper gratitude before asking about it. "I thank you from the bottom of my heart for what you have done for my family, Queen le Fay," Tokiomi said in recognition of Morgan's marriage to King Lot. "Time and again I've been reminded of the nightmare my misguided actions have caused my children. The chance to redeem myself is something I am grateful for. There are things I still do not understand, however. Might you explain what you meant by Mystic Eyes of Hollow?" Tokiomi inquired as he tried to comprehend the weight of his daughters' natural and given gifts as well as those of Shirou. Things were being set into motion that would have far-reaching consequences for them all.
Morgan acknowledged the gratitude with a nod, though the comment 'Queen' did make her frown ever so slightly. "Your gratitude and respect are appreciated, though I am hardly a Queen of Lothian any longer. Some legends may state me to be a Queen of Avalon, but a land largely untouched by human hands needs no royal leadership. 'Lady le Fay' will do, though being called 'Auntie Morgan' by the children is also pleasing." The frown faded away at the reminder of the term of endearment. "As for your query, Mystic Eyes of Hollow are eyes that can see into Imaginary Number Space and permit her to interact with it more intuitively. It was a boon I was not certain she would receive, but one I was hoping she could attain. With it, her potential is far greater. She and Shirou both now bear Compound Mystic Eyes." Morgan's words were hard for Tokiomi to accept, but somehow, he knew them to be true. He could only hope that it would not bring suffering to his daughter.
"Speaking of Shirou," Tokiomi said when reminded of something, "he defended us from Mordred with a blade he Traced. It bore the name Caliburn, a sword thought to be lost forever. Does Shirou Enjou...have the ability to recreate Noble Phantasms with his Magecraft?" It was a question that was absolutely ridiculous on the surface but with what he had learned today...
Morgan was silent for a brief time. She pondered the man and children in front of her before glancing to Merlin. The Magus of Flowers had shed himself from the damage and spell cast upon him and simply wore that infuriating smile. Detestable as it was, that knowing expression told her it was okay to speak. "I had never intended for you to learn of him this soon. You must promise, Tohsaka Family, that Shirou Emiya's true power is not discussed lightly or to his detriment." The woman spoke his adopted name to clarify her stance on his adoption. "He is something that Magus Society could not ignore. Something you already owe your family's future to in ways you are not yet aware."
"I promise..." Sakura was the very first to speak. It was to be expected, really. If Morgan le Fay was Sakura's first friend, then Shirou was her second. Add to that that he had protected her family from harm, and there was little question that she would agree.
"...We owe him, so I suppose we have to agree," Rin said while restraining her thoughts on the matter but unable to hide the haste with which she also made the decision. Merlin couldn't help but smile more widely. The girls' minds were calling forth memories of Shirou's back as he stood against a lord of the Clock Tower and a Servant for their sake. The girls may not have understood their feelings yet, but it was clear to Merlin that they wouldn't need to watch Shirou jumping over a bar this time around to achieve the same effect. Artoria would have competition.
"I swear on the Tohsaka Family Cr-..." Tokiomi said formally at first, interrupting himself at the reminder that he didn't have the Crest anymore. "...I swear." He said it a quiet but somehow more impactful whisper. Morgan le Fay nodded, and Merlin simply chuckled.
"You can swear on the crest in your arm if you desire, Tokiomi. It's not like the one Shirou created for you is going away," Merlin stated, his eyes playfully gleaming. Tokiomi's expression was one of surprised confusion as Merlin spoke further. "You are right. Shirou's Mystic Eyes and his Tracing Magecraft can conspire to recreate that which he desires by relying merely on sight or memory, while also improving his creations' durations in the World. His capabilities include calling upon Noble Phantasms that, by all rights, should no longer exist or even be known to him. Looking upon Artoria's memories in his dreams through the Master-Servant bond has given Shirou access to the bulk of the Artorian armory. When he recalls his previous lives, his armory will only increase further still." He paused briefly for dramatic effect before continuing with his explanation. "Now, recall the power Caliburn holds to heal wounds. That includes the regeneration of limbs if enough power is pumped into it. Shirou saw your Magic Crest with his Mystic Eyes at the Fuyuki Church and many points thereafter, Tokiomi, and simply considered it 'a part of your arm'. He ignorantly willed the power of the blade he was in the process of recreating to restore your Crest along with your missing limbs. It may have been a bit improbable, but you still have a Crest to pass on to Rin. Two Tohsaka Crests exist now, one for each of the two heirs who will use its knowledge to pursue different disciplines rather than sharing and diminishing the Mystery of the main line. Not a bad solution to your succession issue, hmm?" Morgan desperately wanted to call Merlin out on his lie. It wasn't Caliburn that had healed Tokiomi Tohsaka. She still didn't fully understand the mechanism used but assumed Avalon to be involved instead. But what did Merlin know that she didn't? Why did he restrict the information and conceal Avalon's presence from the boy's allies? Morgan wasn't sure, but the action called forth enough doubt for her to hold her tongue.
The amazement on Tokiomi's face was clear before he finally recalled that Merlin was a clairvoyant that had manipulated events for 1500 years. To script these events ahead of time was certainly achievable. Losing his poise for a moment, Tokiomi couldn't help but laugh. His daughters watched the man surrender himself to relief in a manner he had never let them see before. "To think I had resolved to be a father and let the Tohsaka line carry on without the Crest...but now both of my children can carry on the legacy in their own ways. Rin in the traditional way with our Jewel Magecraft and pursuit of the Second Magic...and Sakura founding a new branch of the family studying Imaginary Number Space and the mysteries it holds."
"And should anyone inquire as to how you got two Crests...you need only say that Magecraft employed in the Holy Grail War can transcend that known in the modern era and thank the Edelfelt Family for the initial idea," Merlin advised, smiling widely. Yes, he was wrapping up the issue of Sakura's place in the family in a manner better than Morgan could have hoped. Yes, he managed to do so by saying it was purely Shirou's known abilities that were responsible, concealing the fact he had Avalon and the true Caliburn in his care. The woman hated how he was doing it, though, because it meant that Merlin had seen through and manipulated her as well. It was an insult to her pride.
"Know this, Tokiomi Tohsaka," Morgan said while re-inserting herself into the discussion. "We did not correct your mistake and try to guarantee both your children's futures simply so you could revert to your previous actions. Love your children as a father first. Teach them how a Magus thinks as necessity demands to keep them safe, but do not demand such an absence of humanity from them in their daily lives. Develop their characters alongside their strengths."
"I will," Tokiomi swore with an expression of determination. A hand went to each of his daughters' heads, gently ruffling hair. "Never again will I be a Magus first and a father second. I must ask though...if you knew ahead of time that Sakura would suffer, why did you not prevent me from sending her to the Matou in the first place?"
Morgan noted the reasonable question and lowered her head slightly, regretting what Sakura had to go through. "Had Sakura not been suffering, Kariya Matou would have had no need to participate in the War. Had Kariya not participated in the War, the usefulness of our knowledge of the other timeline would have become useless and endangered the World. Our knowledge seems to have proven of limited value anyway, but at the very least a force has risen to protect humanity from the Grail as a result."
"I suppose that it couldn't be helped, then..." Tokiomi noted, realizing that pursuing a hoped-for future had its costs...but at least he could help Sakura recover from the price they had all paid.
Morgan nodded, glad that the man accepted the explanation. "I have given Sakura lessons in Magecraft over the past year and am willing to teach the other children on occasion, so we can speak further at a later time while you are in close proximity to Sakura in your sleep. I would also be grateful if you could arrange for Gray to meet me as well. She is my descendant through Gawain and is a child in the care of Lancer's Master. For now, though, it is time for you all to wake. Carry with you the best of fortune and all of my hopes." With a snap of her fingers, the group vanished from the dreamscape.
"Hmm...Morgan, why did you not bring Kirei Kotomine here for the discussion?" Merlin inquired.
Morgan looked at the Magus of Flowers as if he were mad. "Are you daft? You would have me bring a man incapable of feeling positive emotions to a land that would force him to feel them? Done without care, that would be akin to giving him a powerful dose of an addictive drug! Just as when Gilgamesh exposed him to sadism in the old timeline, he might never be able to turn back."
Merlin smirked. "I know, but it would have been entertaining at the very least." Morgan simply ignored the man's response while Artemis and Vivian each gave him a judgmental glare.
"Do not tell me that 'entertainment' was why you concealed the truth from Tokiomi regarding the duplication of his Crest," Morgan warned in a low tone that was nearly a growl.
"Very well, I will not do so. Instead, I will leave you to ponder this question. Shirou used neither Caliburn nor Avalon to heal Tokiomi Tohsaka and restore his Crest. With that in mind, how did he manage to do so with permanence rather than as phantasms for Gaia to disperse over time?" Merlin doubled down on that irritating grin before turning his back and leaving the dreamscape. Morgan regarded the incubus' previous location with confusion at his question, while Artemis simply observed. The Divine Spirit knew how the healing was accomplished, as it was essential to her plans. Still, she decided not to tell Morgan le Fay.
The longer the truth of the matter was hidden, the better.
Fuyuki Church
119 hours and 40 minutes to Zero
As one, the Tohsaka trio awoke in the Fuyuki Church's spare bedroom where Shirou had rested not long ago. Tokiomi had been sleeping in one bed while his daughters had been in the other. The girls were now wearing simple clothing from the Church's collected donations. This was due to Rin previously only having smoke-scented pajamas and Sakura only having ribbons of prana to protect her modesty, though Rin's new Noble Phantasm was now resting over her shoulders. The cloak had somehow been transported to Rin, likely via Avalon Nocturne's connection to Morgan le Fay by some process involving Imaginary Number Space. Of course, that was assuming the scabbard hadn't held the cloak within it all along. Tokiomi lacked enough information to speculate too deeply.
Standing watch in the room were Medusa and Atalanta, the latter wearing an expression of determination. The Archer-class Servant knelt in fealty before the bed where the girls now sat and spoke reverently to Rin. Rin's cloak simply added to the image of a warrior addressing their lord in spite of the otherwise humble nature of her attire and surroundings. "I, Atalanta, have been informed of the corruption of the Grail by the Overseer and have heard the words of the goddess through our link. My own wish will wait for a better day. I accept the duty bestowed upon me to protect you and reaffirm my pledge to serve you in this War. Use my arrows as your own, my Master." Artemis had indeed chosen a Servant best suited to the situation. She would not wish upon a corrupted Grail that would twist her intentions, nor would she turn her back on the children that needed her. Knowing that her presence here was Artemis' will only made her resolve stronger.
"Y-yes...thank you, Atalanta," Rin said, surprised at the show of fealty and meeting it with slightly awkward politeness. Rin still managed to give the Chaste Huntress an earnest smile of gratitude.
Medusa gave Sakura a small smile before stepping forward toward Tokiomi and regaining her unreadable expression. The man glanced to the blindfolded Servant, wondering what her intentions were. "I am Sakura's Servant, Rider. Archer is Rin's Servant. Each called for our aid and we answered. Now...I have memories of a Fifth Holy Grail War ten years from now. I am told that Saber does as well? She acted as though she recognized me."
"Yes," Tokiomi stated, "she does. She described you and her Master was even able to replicate your blindfold from what he saw of you in their dream link. I assume that the copy around Sakura's neck served as your catalyst?"
Before Medusa could respond, Okita appeared in the room dropping her Presence Concealment. "My apologies, but Saber-senpai and a few others are approaching the Church. Did you want to meet with them?"
Tokiomi glanced toward the ancient family friend and gave a smile. "Thank you for telling me. It seems that the time for rest is over." Standing, Tokiomi did his best to unwrinkle the burgundy shirt that he had been given to sleep in. Not the best attire for meeting someone, but it lacked severed sleeves and wasn't covered in his own blood. His pants had survived at the very least. Tokiomi turned to the other bed to tell the girls to stay put but noticed that they had already left the room to greet Artoria. Atalanta and Medusa were hot on their heels, making sure the girls didn't get into any danger.
"...I will have to give them a talk about the dangers we're facing. It seems that speaking with Risei didn't let it sink in." Tokiomi observed before following the group, with Okita at his side.
When they all arrived in the main room of the church, they saw both priests as well as Artoria in her Mysterious Heroine X attire standing between the pews. She was fooling no one at this point, but she still tried. Next to her, only manifesting from Spirit Form once the doors to the church were shut, was EMIYA. He instead wore his more typical attire and lounged in one of the pews. He regarded Kirei Kotomine with a look of irritation.
"You seem to have some problem with me," Kirei observed from EMIYA's gaze. He was not expecting yet another Servant to be in the war but maintained his calm demeanor. Any discussion that may have evolved from this topic, however, was abruptly halted by Artoria.
"Rin," Artoria noted on seeing that familiar cloak around the elder Tohsaka daughter's shoulders, "please remove that cloak slowly and carefully. I know not why it is here, but I recognize it from my lifetime. It is quite dangerous for the wearer." She spoke calmly, but her eyes still betrayed a measure of alarm and concern.
"You need not worry, though I thank you for warning my Master," Atalanta said on stepping forward. "I am Archer, servant of Rin Tohsaka. Your sister, Lady le Fay, repurposed this cloak as a Noble Phantasm for my Master's use. As your sister and Merlin both arranged for me to protect her, I doubt it will cause her harm. That being said, I worry about your grooming a child to be your lover. Such a thing is very...improper." Atalanta was suspending her judgment until she heard more, but it was clear that harsh words could be had depending on Artoria's response.
The King of Knights blushed slightly but controlled her expression as she looked Atalanta in the eyes. "Your concern is valid, so allow me to clarify. Shirou's resurrection is merely a chance for me to be with him. If we wanted to be absolutely certain he would wait for me, he would have all of his adult memories from his previous lives as early as possible. Instead, they will come to him over time as he grows so that he may have a chance at childhood while still being able to protect himself...even if he decides to love someone else along the way. I would not even have appeared to him in his youth were he not in mortal danger. When he is old enough, I will ask for his hand properly as intended rather than daring to presume. The choice will truly be his."
Atalanta's expression softened on the realization that the boy would not be forced into anything and would be free to grow without such a thing hanging over his head. "In that case, my complaint is withdrawn. I know you might consider it meddling on my part, but I care deeply for children. It is why Rin's summoning was manipulated to bring me forth. To ensure that I would protect her, her family, Shirou, and reject the corrupted Grail."
Artoria gave a pleased nod. "It is always good to have another ally. Welcome to the World, Archer. Though...we may need to differentiate you from this other Archer in some way."
"So this is another Archer? How does he fit in with all of this?" Kirei Kotomine asked. Unexpectedly, it would be Medusa who answered.
"This is the Archer who served as Rin Tohsaka's Servant in the Fifth Holy Grail War. That means three of the seven Servants from that War are currently in play." Medusa's comment made various eyes widen, though Archer's next comment would make them widen further.
"Four. Hercules wasn't killed and has heavy resistance against all Noble Phantasms used against him in the Fifth Holy Grail War. We're monitoring the Lesser Grail and he has yet to appear inside. He's so stubborn that killing his Master is no guarantee of success." Medusa's expression was hard to read, but she didn't like that news. At least she hadn't used Bellerophon against him. She had instead tried to win by killing his Master. Atalanta, who had been Hercules' ally in life, had a saddened expression until it shifted into one of resolve. EMIYA, meanwhile, shifted his gaze and stared at Rin.
"...W-what? You like my cloak or something? It wouldn't fit you, you know!" Rin blurted out, somewhat uncomfortable and responding by being confrontational. She also felt something odd about the man in front of her. It was faint, but...
"My connection to Rin is back," EMIYA said with a bit of a sigh and surprising Artoria. "It's not as strong as the one I have with Shirou and she's not providing me with any energy, but her receiving Command Seals seems to have re-activated our contract."
"I see...that is why you came along, then? Not merely to see your former Master once more?" Artoria inquired, having thought the man came for sentimental reasons. He was once Shirou, after all.
"I needed to confirm it before I said anything. A two Master setup is rare, but not impossible. We've already seen it once in this war. If it's Rin though, it should be fine as long as she doesn't start wasting Command Seals again." Memories of Rin using her first Command Seal on a ridiculously vague order flowed through his mind as the current Rin gave him a too-familiar stink-eye. Hopefully, their link was weak enough to where the dream cycle would be dominated by her other Servant's history.
Medusa felt the need to clarify something. "Archer, Saber, how can Shirou support two Servants? I don't remember him having enough power for that. Did Morgan boost his Magic Circuits as she did Sakura's?" Medusa's question drew the eyes of Shirou's Servants to Sakura.
"It seems that both sides have yet more information to share, then. I do recall seeing Sakura riding Pegasus without strain and wearing black ribbons of prana." Artoria's observation made Archer visibly flinch and look at Sakura in worry.
"Yes, we'd best hear all about this," Archer said in a hard-to-read tone. Well, hard to read for everyone but Medusa. She couldn't blame him for being worried given what they both remembered of Dark Sakura, though the fact that Artoria seemed ignorant was strange to her.
Edelfelt Forest Mansion
119 hours and 35 minutes to Zero
Mordred had been staring at the child for hours. She never even truly noticed when the sun had begun to rise. She held Caliburn in her hands as it gleamed in the early morning sun, having never surrendered it to her new Master. It was a shame for Sola-Ui that there were no Command Seals left. If she wanted to survive this, the woman didn't have any choice but to yield to Mordred's demands.
The Knight of Treachery's mind went back to the parley where her fathers spoke. Their views on kingship, the grief the pretender carried, how her father had apparently borne that same grief and transitioned into acceptance, the disappointment of Iskandar regarding her own wish...it all felt so surreal. Something had changed in her father since Camlann, leaving Mordred confused as she reflected on her father's words.
"A King that can only save their people and not lead them will one day fall. I have come to terms with that. It is you, Mordred, who showed the world that I was an imperfect King. Denying the flaws that you personally exposed in my rule is a contradiction. A perfect King does not exist, Mordred. If one without apparent flaw stands as King, they will not have the wherewithal to comprehend their imperfect human subjects or their needs. That was my flaw."
"Why does it matter if you understand them or not? Who said the King had to be human?" Mordred grumbled, resisting the urge to lash out once more as she had at the parley. Part of the reason a homunculus like Mordred was so impressed with the perfect King was that they stood separate from and above humanity. But now her father had come to believe that was wrong? That the very concept of a perfect King was a paradox? Mordred shuddered at the thought that she had been the one to cause her father to feel doubt and change into who she was now. It was one thing to defeat the King in battle, but to break the King simply out of grief...grief in part over her...that did not sit well with Mordred.
"...If you can somehow still hear me...I've done this not of malice but of duty. Your actions were merely the culmination of my own failings.
Thus, I forgive you...Mordred..."
"I never wanted that," Mordred uttered while remembering those words full of sadness. "I never wanted forgiveness or to be mourned. I just-!" Mordred would suddenly become aware of and distracted by a pair of lidded, glowing eyes regarding her presence. Shirou had awakened at some point and was staring groggily at the girl at the foot of his bed. Mordred promptly turned on him. "...Why did the sword have to choose you? Why couldn't it have been me? Then I could have been acknowledged by Father and none of that would have happened!" Mordred exclaimed to the boy in both anger and thinly veiled lament, not really expecting an answer from the child as to why he was chosen by Caliburn. The boy was silent for a time, pondering in a half-awake state, before realizing something.
"You want your dad..." Shirou said as his Mystic Eyes laid the truth bare, making Mordred flinch slightly as he answered her feelings rather than her words. He then awoke fully, remembering the situation he had been in when he lost consciousness. "...W-wait! What happened to Mister Tohsaka and Rin? You didn't hurt them, did you? Where am I?" Shirou asked urgently in worry.
Mordred's expression softened only slightly before she gave a response. "When you used Caliburn against me, the front of the house exploded and it collapsed. I got you out of there and someone else rescued the others. They were seen going into the Fuyuki Church, so they're probably fine. You're at a mansion in the woods where my ex-Master's fiancée is. She's my new Master. She's going to ask for something that was stolen from a friend of hers and free passage in exchange for giving you back. Just sit tight and don't make trouble, alright?"
Shirou tilted his head, processing more than just the simplified explanation. His eyes could tell that Mordred was being truthful, playing back her history as he stared. He saw the War thus far and the events of last night, her upbringing and service to Artoria during her life, and her confusion. Mordred could feel that some sort of Magecraft was in play, those eyes seeming to stare through her. "Hey. What do you think you're doing, kid?"
"Looking at your history. You're telling the truth..." Shirou answered, the girl blinking at the strange answer before starting to suspect just what those Mystic Eyes that Sola-Ui detected might be capable of. The boy knew of her confusion, her lament, and decided to provide what comfort he could. Supporting other kids at the orphanage was by no means unfamiliar to him. "...sorry for what you went through. Saber hated having to do what she did. I saw it all from her side, too."
"W-what do you mean, brat?" Mordred stammered, uncomfortable with the idea of someone having the power to peer into a person's history to that degree...but could he see into their hearts as well with those eyes? Had he seen her father's thoughts? She decided she couldn't pass up the opportunity, regardless of how creepy the kid's power was. "...hey, tell me about Father. You've looked at him, right? Why'd he become like this? Giving up and moving on from being King?"
Shirou contemplated Mordred's request. He processed the history of Artoria, even using the scabbard in his body as an additional reference, and responded. "She let her feelings out." That made Mordred more confused, but there was something in that statement that rang true based on the King of Knights' words at the parley. Shirou elected to clarify. "She threw away her feelings when she pulled out Caliburn because Merlin said she had to. She was willing to give up everything to serve her people and believed him. When Tristan said she didn't understand people, she hid the hurt. When she had to turn away from you, she hid the hurt. When you fought her at Camlann, she hid the hurt. When she beat Berserker Lancelot in the Fourth Grail War and heard it was her fault he went crazy, she couldn't hide it anymore and blamed herself. In the Fifth Grail War, she figured out that throwing away her feelings to be perfect made all that bad stuff happen in the first place."
"Turning away from me...hurt Father? He didn't want to do it? Then why did he? Why?" Mordred asked with growing urgency, having never known that. She let go of the sword and grasped the shoulders of the boy that might just have the answers she sought.
"Her thoughts and feelings then were all over the place..." Shirou said as he tried to parse what he was seeing in Artoria's history. Though his lingual skills were perfect, he was still thinking as a child. "The thoughts were something like... 'he's asking because of his feelings' and 'he's too human, the burden would consume him'." Mordred was stunned when Shirou quoted Artoria's thoughts perfectly in the Common Brittonic language of the era and said those words of all things. "The feelings Saber felt were worry and love, but she couldn't let herself show them because she was King. That's not all, but I can't really understand everything. Your mother had nothing to do it though. She never did."
Mordred wasn't sure how to interpret this. According to this boy, who was somehow able to see into the hearts and history of others, her father truly did not hate her because of who her mother was. There was even some love there. The reason she couldn't be King was that she felt too much? Her King saw her as 'human'? "What do you mean 'too human'? I'm the child of King Arthur and a Fae, created as a homunculus! I'm as far from human as you can get and still look the part!"
"But you had feelings like a human and that's what mattered! That's not everything, but Saber's heart was a mess! I don't think she even recognized her own feelings back then! She couldn't!" Shirou said in frustration, surprising Mordred. "Maybe you can just ask her? She's lived a really long time, and I can't go through all that time at once to see what changed and when. I'm not that good with my eyes yet..."
"Wait, what do you mean 'she's lived a really long time'?" Mordred inquired in confusion. Shirou wondered if he said too much, but it was too late now. He sighed and gave an answer.
"Older me gave her scabbard back during the Fifth Holy Grail War. She took it with her and kept living when she went back to her own time. Her real body's in Avalon right now, but she'll be back for real someday." Mordred's eyes widened at Shirou's answer. There was a component of King Arthur's legend that was vague and contradictory about his survival or death, some saying he'd even return from Avalon one day to rule again. It seemed that the single most unlikely part of the legend, the one that dubbed King Arthur as the 'Once and Future King', was true. Mordred had failed to kill her father.
Strangely, the Knight of Treachery had mixed feelings about this. At least now she could have her answer. "I will ask."
"...Even looking at you, I don't understand," Shirou said while tilting his head. "You have a father who cares about you. Why do you make yourself hate? Lots of kids at the orphanage would love to have one of their parents if it meant being loved back."
"He didn't care enough when I needed him to," Mordred responded, head dipping slightly. Anger and sadness at the reminder filled her mind and heart, alongside confusion regarding the change in Artoria. Mordred was both tempted by false hope in her father and lamented the change in her King. The dichotomy was very hard for her to reconcile, making her heart stubborn.
Shirou carefully moved across the bed and did something else he sometimes did for the other orphans. He wrapped his arms around the girl in an embrace, ignoring how she tensed up when receiving her first hug. It took several moments for Mordred to realize what this was, having been denied such things by her mother. She contemplated pushing the child away but hesitated to do so. Arms soon wrapped around the boy's small frame wordlessly, the Knight of Treachery accepting the offered support from the unlikely source.
"...N-no one hears about this, got it? And for goodness sake, learn to control those eyes of yours!" The young woman chastised without much weight to it, Shirou nodding gently while feeling a bit of dampness on his shoulder blade. Mordred would sooner lose the War than acknowledge those tears.
Steps in front of the Ryuudou Temple
119 hours and 28 minutes to Zero
Gilgamesh was irritated by the slow pace and the wheezing of the man stumbling up the incline in front of him and Hercules. Simply watching Byakuya Matou struggle up the stairs leading toward the Ryuudou Temple provided that much more proof in his mind of how badly certain aspects of humanity had declined in his absence. Oh, Gilgamesh understood him well enough. The man was in an impossible situation with that lich of an ancestor of his, responding by trying to forget his suffering at the bottom of a bottle and attempting to pickle the worm wrapped around his heart with alcohol in the process. That didn't mean that Gilgamesh forgave it. The King of Heroes was tempted to cut the man down for daring to squander the gift of self-determination that he had given mankind by freeing them from the gods. Fortunately for Byakuya, the future that Gilgamesh foresaw needed events to continue to play out as they were.
"How do people...huff...even manage this climb?" The spoiled-yet-tortured 'head' of the Matou family uttered, further stressing Gilgamesh's patience. At least the scorched bundle flung over Hercules' shoulder had the decency to stay relatively quiet by comparison.
"Discipline. Something in which you are sorely lacking, mongrel. Silence your complaints and press onward if you value your pathetic life." Gilgamesh's admonishment made Byakuya twitch and fall back into relative silence save for his exertions, his fear of death forcing him to cling to a futile existence. Gilgamesh was disgusted with the broken man, especially because he dared to complain when they were nearly at the end of their journey.
"Halt," the voice of a young woman ordered without emotion, attracting the attention of the group as they reached the gates of the temple. With expressionless red eyes and hair as white as snow, one of the homunculi of the Einzbern Family stood ready with a Wind Magecraft-augmented sword that was ready to cut down intruders. Gilgamesh also knew that Mages of similar appearance were hidden in the trees on either side of the stairs and ready to assail Byakuya, showing that the Einzberns took the defense of the Greater Grail quite seriously. Indeed, the Bounded Fields dedicated to detecting threats had been upgraded as well and allowed for the homunculus to perceive the being wrapped around Byakuya's heart. "What business does Makiri Zolgen have here?"
"Y-you can sense that?" The words were said with fear and surprise before Byakuya's body seized up and he gave a pained cry, his form tensing before suddenly standing a bit straighter. A smirk crossed his face as the worms now in his brain took over. Byakuya was still conscious though. The eyes dilated with panic, the pale complexion, and the sweat on his brow were all signs of the horror he endured as Zouken Matou took over his flesh to speak.
"My apologies for the form I am currently taking, but these are desperate times. Our descendants have betrayed us, after all. I do assume you have kept an eye on that little discussion about the Grail at your castle?" Zouken observed the eyes of the homunculus flashing with life, Jubstacheit von Einzbern assuming control of the puppet to respond.
"I am aware of their ill-advised parley. It seems that the younger generation does not care for our respective intentions. That does not explain your presence, Makiri." The homunculus said warily.
Zouken chuckled. "Is it not obvious? I wish to aid you. You have the Greater Grail and large amounts of prana, and I have two of the strongest Servants in history who are in need of prana. As for the wish at the end..."
"The Einzberns will obtain the Third Magic with the Grail. There is absolutely no room for negotiation." Jubstacheit said through his puppet's voice, the blade of the female homunculus being raised in preparation for combat. Indeed, the creature created to lead the Einzbern family had tasted failure too many times and had become narrow-minded.
"So inflexible. Had you not considered the fact that I now count on the Einzberns regaining the Third Magic?" Zouken asked, muted confusion briefly crossing the face of the terminal through which the eighth head of the Einzbern family listened. Zouken continued to communicate through Byakuya. "It is true that we were unable to come to an agreement during the First Holy Grail War, but our needs have shifted to a degree since that time. You wish for the ability to give immortality, I wish to receive it. With the dangers upon us, it is time for me to cast aside my pride and provide my services to avoid a repeat of what happened sixty years ago...with the understanding that you use the Third Magic on my soul to grant me immortality once you are victorious."
Comprehension dawned on the homunculus' features, then contemplation. After a brief but tense few seconds, the sword was withdrawn and sheathed. "Enter." Nothing more was said, no courtesy in the tone. As Zouken and his entourage passed through the shrine's gates, Jubstacheit's gaze looked past them to the remains of Mount Enzou's summit beyond the shrine. The Einzberns were once more forced to deal with those who they considered lessers, but the alternative could not be allowed to repeat itself.
WEAPON DATA:
Name: Avalon Nocturne: Shadow of the Everdistant Utopia
Owner: Sakura Tohsaka (and heirs if desired)
Type: Anti-Unit (Self)
Rank: A
Range: N/A
Maximum number of targets: Self
In the sixth century, Morgan le Fay once switched Excalibur and Avalon for fakes and entrusted the originals to her lover, Accolon, to kill her sister Artoria with. Accolon failed in his task and would perish, with the originals returned to Artoria as spoils of victory. Morgan was later able to re-steal the true Avalon while Artoria was recovering from the battle. It was a mere footnote in Artorian/Arthurian legend, but the fake weapons were still recorded as being wielded by Artoria even if only once and bore conceptual weight. Later, when Morgan le Fay wanted to make something for Sakura Matou centuries before her birth, she took advantage of the fakes she had made and their place in history. Their foothold in her sister's legend gave them the chance to become Noble Phantasms of Artorian/Arthurian legend rather than mere Mystic Codes, even if a step lower in rank than the ones they were copied from. These were Noble Phantasms she could assign the ownership of by merit of being their creator. With this, Morgan collected select fakes and Mystic Codes she'd created that had found a place in history and started reworking them to make the "Second Stage" of Artorian Noble Phantasms for use in the distant future.
The nameless proto-Noble Phantasm in Avalon's form was remodeled in a manner suitable for Sakura Matou's nature as an Incarnation of Hollow, an element that Morgan le Fay was profoundly proficient in herself. Having the original Avalon and Excalibur available for study made her job even easier. It became Avalon Nocturne, an obsidian-black scabbard with purple enamel trim, that was a direct contrast to its original. If the scabbard Avalon could be considered the shining light of its namesake's day, then Avalon Nocturne is the shadow of its night. Light always casts a shadow, and it is this shadow filled with Avalon's intrinsic hope that gives Avalon Nocturne its basis as a Conceptual Weapon of Hollow and Hope. At its core, this dark implement embodies the concept that darkness is not inherently evil and that hope and salvation can exist within it.
Its powers include the ability to heal, to control(or halt) aging, to transform Sakura into a being that can handle its power(giving her a Magic Circuit composition much like the Fae, Glam Sight: Fairy Eyes, and Mystic Eyes of Hollow), and the ability to tap into the shadows of Avalon as a power source. It also allows for limited interference by Morgan le Fay from her place in the land of Avalon, should Sakura permit it. This is typically in the form of dreamscape communication, but can also be used to assist in rituals such as Magic Crest transfers or Servant summonings, or even to deliver 'care packages' of sorts through Imaginary Number Space. It is a scabbard meant to 'hold' things, after all. Unfortunately, the original's vaunted defensive barrier was a power superior to the True Magics and was not replicable. This version of the scabbard instead acts as a battery and regenerative boost in a combat situation. The Magus using the scabbard must rely on their own spells and skills to make optimal use of it. The scabbard is intended to be used by Sakura and passed down to her descendants if desired, though it is just as likely that Sakura may simply choose to live indefinitely with its power instead.
Morgan le Fay fully intends to teach Sakura what her older Heaven's Feel counterpart learned through instinct and grooming without the corrupted aspects, and has already begun to do so. A degraded built-in barrier function is just superfluous if Sakura's own shadow ribbons would do just as well, after all. In this way, Avalon Nocturne encourages Sakura to develop her own abilities to use Avalon Nocturne to optimal effect.
Name: Jeweled Cloak of Morgan
Owner: Rin Tohsaka (and heirs if desired)
Type: Anti-Unit/Anti-Army
Rank: C (C+ against a single target)
Range: 0-30
Maximum number of targets: 1-100 people
A gift from Morgan le Fay to Rin Tohsaka, the Jeweled Cloak of Morgan is a "Second Stage" Artorian Noble Phantasm with a beauty that would make an Edelfelt stare in envy. It is woven from strands of gold and silver and covered in jewels, though the cloak can transform its size and appearance to suit the wearer's body type and preference thanks to Morgan's shapeshifting Magecraft. Its disguised state currently appears as a long red coat modeled after that of Rin Tohsaka's future self, but at her current size. The regal cloak started its existence in the sixth century as a Mystic Code designed to incinerate its wearer that Morgan le Fay sent to King Artoria Pendragon at Camelot. The tool of assassination failed when it was tested on Morgan's courier rather than worn by the King. Though interesting as a Mystic Code, it was its small footnote in Artorian/Arthurian lore that allowed it to be developed into a Noble Phantasm. Morgan's status as its creator also allowed her to designate its owner, and as such it has been granted to Rin Tohsaka and her heirs if desired.
The cloak has been extensively modified by Morgan. Its incineration function is now reserved for those who maliciously try to use its power or remove its jewels without the consent of its true owner. The power of the cloak is now directed outward toward foes rather than inward toward the wearer. The cloak can discharge its energy in one direction or in all directions, though concentrating the firepower at one point by calling on the cloak's True Name allows for a stronger hit. The use of the Noble Phantasm's initial state is rather basic. It should be noted that the main reason the cloak can function as a Noble Phantasm in the modern era is due to the efficiency borne of the Tohsaka's synergy with the gem-based cloak. Energy costs could easily exceed the realm of human effort were someone else not suited to Jewel Magecraft to try to use it. Even as it is, the youthful Rin cannot empower the cloak for long periods of time. This is partially alleviated by having the cloak gently siphon power from Rin outside of combat and store it in its gems for later use.
The true abilities of the cloak, however, are borne of how Morgan was able to take advantage of the vagueness of the legend behind the Noble Phantasm. No one knows if the cloak was 'only' capable of employing fire or not. As a result, Morgan took advantage of this vagueness and was able to upgrade the cloak without diminishing its Mystery. The result was that jewels containing various spells could be added or removed from the cloak by its rightful master or designated heir to improve it, with the initial set of jewels containing its fire spells permanently installed in the cloak so as to maintain consistency with the cloak's legend. In doing so, Morgan essentially created a 'programmable Noble Phantasm' that could be upgraded with gemstones and spells as Rin's skill in Jewel Magecraft improved. Unlike in normal cases, gemstones connected to the cloak do not destroy themselves when employed and can be reused. The most effective gemstones are ones without physical flaws.
Fashionable, jewel-studded, and compatible with her Magecraft; the Jeweled Cloak of Morgan is truly the 'Noble Phantasm of Rin Tohsaka'.
MYSTIC EYE DATA:
Name: Glam Sight: Fairy Eyes
Owner: Shirou Enjou/Emiya, Sakura Tohsaka
Type: Analytical
Rank (Noble Colors System): Jewel
Glam Sight: Fairy Eyes are a type of Mystic Eye that allows one to not only perceive something that normally couldn't be seen, such as Fairies and other elementals that are normally concealed from the World but also gives the brain the ability to process that which normally couldn't be understood. While sometimes developing naturally in people, Shirou and Sakura's eyes specifically are a direct result of being modified by the scabbards Avalon and Avalon Nocturne respectively from a young age and touch upon those encountered in the Age of Gods. They are typically used to upgrade Shirou and Sakura's respective abilities to see and comprehend data on Structural Analysis and Invisible Number Space respectively, though they help improve data analysis in general. As such, they are invaluable tools for researching their respective forms of Magecraft.
Name: Mystic Eyes of Clairvoyance (Present)
Owner: Shirou Enjou/Emiya
Type: Analytical
Rank (Noble Colors System): Gold
Due to using his eyes to Structurally Grasp things in his past lives, as well as being merged with a Servant that used Reinforcement on his eyes to brute-force the Clairvoyance skill for the purposes of aiming, Shirou developed a version of the Mystic Eyes of Clairvoyance in addition to Glam Sight: Fairy Eyes when he was reborn. He is not able to see the future like Gilgamesh but rather is only able to use it to see the past and present. Shirou also needs to explicitly look upon an object to use his eyes on rather than being able to see events in general, with his current range of vision being roughly 4 kilometers with the eyes active. Reinforcement can push this range further.
Though weaker than the Age of Gods' versions of the skill on the surface, they allow the automatic use of Shirou's special brand of Structural Grasping when employed. This allows Shirou to use these Mystic Eyes to greater effect. He is even able to Structurally Grasp objects that other people or objects have encountered in their histories (like Caliburn or the Jeweled Sword of Zelretch), analyze the skills of others (like the martial art of Caster's Master in the Fifth Holy Grail War), or even read the thoughts of others (since those thoughts are part of the person's history as well).
In truth, it is the synergy between Shirou's Mystic Eyes and his skills that make him as effective as he is, rather than the brute ability of his Eyes. However, Shirou is used to comparing himself to Servants, so he tends to underestimate his abilities.
Name: Mystic Eyes of Hollow
Owner: Sakura Tohsaka
Type: Analytical, Interactive
Rank (Noble Colors System): Jewel
Imaginary Number Space is a reality beyond the standard one borne of length, width, height, and time. The various Textures of the World and, indeed, the World and Reverse Side of the World themselves, are separated from each other by this aspect of spacetime that is typically incomprehensible and dangerous to life as we know it. It is even explored by various Outer Gods and Foreigners bearing Alien Common Sense. It is notoriously hard to analyze and navigate, typically requiring the assistance of the Mage Association's best researchers to attempt more than making a mere storage pocket.
Sakura Matou's Mystic Eyes of Hollow, however, allow her to easily observe and understand Imaginary Number Space on an instinctive level alongside normal space. This, combined with Glam Sight: Fairy Eyes' ability to aid her in processing the normally nonsensical data it produces, gives Sakura a new direction in which to take her Magecraft.