To be honest I wasn't excepting to be able to post today but hey I surprised myself. Anyway, thanks to everyone for the support, faving, following and the reviews. Now, with that out of the way let's get started.
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Opening her circuits was something that Illyasviel von Einzbern, or as she went by lately Illyasviel Emiya, could have been said to have done almost on instinct. Part of it was because she was an Einzbern homunculus developed for it and the other part was because she was the daughter of the Lesser Grail. It just came to her. The feeling she felt now was numbness as circuits that she didn't know she had were awakened.
All over her body these dormant circuits flared up as they were finally connected, so to speak, with her own. Illya was told a bit about this. Her modifications from before she was born left her with them and they would likely have left her with many health issues later in life. Now that they were properly connected that shouldn't be an issue. She could grow up normally now.
"How are you feeling Illya?" The homunculus girl was pulled from her thoughts as she turned her attention back to her father. Kiritsugu for his part was told to watch for any potential side effects of the transfer. There was still a possibility for Illya to suffer from the side effects of having a crest transfer.
Such side effects could be mild and manageable or something that could be dangerous. If she didn't show any within a few months then it was safe to say that there would likely never be any. "I feel a little numb but nothing else."
Illya's words were comforting to hear. Numbness was a common side effect of awaking magic circuits that hadn't been used or neglected. Usually only something that those that opened their circuits later in life found out about. After about a day or two the feeling should go away and Illya would be back to how she usually was. Though added that she would have far more reserves than before.
Opening the door to their home they were greeted with Taiga walking into the hall. Taiga hadn't expected to see them both and almost jumped in surprise. Although, maybe she should have expected that they would be back. It was almost nightfall after all. "Oh, you're back, how did it go?"
"Alright, hopefully Illya shouldn't have any issues," Kiritsugu had been rather vague on what was Illya's health issue to her. Telling her that the reason was related to her albinism, and that it was part of the reason her family had refused to give him custody of her. In the loosest of terms that was technically correct.
Taiga was relieved as she had thought a bit about just what Illya's health problem could be. She liked her like a little sister. There was also Shirou to think about. The two siblings seemed almost inseparable. "That's good," Her eyes finally caught sight of the bag in Kiritsugu's hand. "Is that take out?"
Ever since Shirou had taken to cooking Kiritsugu had ceased getting take out. Especially given that Illya had joined him in the kitchen. Just seeing the bag in his hand was so alien to her. "I figured both Shirou and Illya could use a break from cooking dinner all the time," Although, it was more for Illya who would likely stubbornly attempt to cook in her condition. "Where is Shirou by the way?"
"He's in the storehouse though I still don't know why he or Illya spends so much time in there," As far as Taiga knew at most the place was filled with a bunch of old junk that Kiritsugu had. Both Illya and Shirou had kind of taken it as their little spot and Taiga just wondered what was so great about it. "You want me th o go get him?"
Before Kiritsugu could answer Illya did instead. "I'll do it why don't you both sit down and eat."
Taiga immediately took Illya up on her offer while Kiritsugu just went along with it. Walking out into the storehouse/Emiya amily workshop Illya opened the door to find Shirou in his usual place sitting down and projecting not the dagger or the shinai like he usually did but instead projected what looked like to her a weird looking spear. Shirou, noticing the change in lighting, dismissed the yari which dissolved into motes of light. "You're back," Shirou stood back up, forgetting about his practice in projecting. "How did everything go?"
"It turned out I have magic circuits that I couldn't use at least not until Papa gave up his Magic Crest so I could use them," Both of them know the importance of a Magic Crest. Rin had shown them hers which was something of a point of pride for the Tohsaka girl. "I should be able to grow up normally and live a full life now."
Hearing that was a relief. Shirou hadn't actually thought about what he would do if they were unable to help her. A nagging feeling, almost a voice in his head, told him that there was one way to help her if this had failed. 'Why do I feel extremely conflicted all of a sudden?' Pushing it aside to the back of his mind he might as well focus on the now. "That's great to hear!"
"Yeah, but I am annoyed by how numb I feel," Illya decided to show what she meant by picking up one of the pipes that hang on a table. As it was pulled off the table Illya's grip struggled to hold on to it. A second later the pipe fell out of her grip and landed on the ground. "I can't grip anything without dropping it!"
Shirou picked up the fallen pipe for Illya. At least it wasn't something that was breakable or that they needed that she had used to demonstrate. "How long will it last?"
"A night of rest is all I'll need," Illya tried to grab Shirou's arm. "Anyway, I came to get you for dinner papa got take out on the way here."
Shirou wanted to ask why he had done so. He wasn't complaining or anything but it just seemed so sudden. Dinner could be cooked just by himself after all. Although, Illya's weak grip gave him an idea on why. Her body was numb because of the connecting and activation of circuits that had been dormant for a while. Illya joined him practically all the time now when they cooked. 'Maybe he did it so that Illya wouldn't feel left out?'
Taiga waved goodbye to Kiritsugu as he did in return. Closing the door he decided to get some rest as he felt rather tired. Maybe it was a result of the removal of his Magic Crest. Perhaps having effectively gotten rid of the only thing not affected by the curse and he was starting to feel more of the effects. Kiritsugu turned to head to his room before being stopped by his son. "Hey, can we talk for a bit?"
There wasn't much of a reason not to. His tiredness was going to have to wait for a bit it seems. "Sure, what is it?"
"I had another memory flash when we went to Ryuudou Temple," It was mostly clear looking back. Fitting given how recent it was relative to now. Relative to when the Shirou that was for all purposes died. "It was me just a few days before the fire happened."
Kiritsugu hadn't thought much about why Shirou had been in Fuyuki when he saved him. The Dead Apostle that had been looking for him didn't talk much about it, but there had to be a reason. Especially given the connection he believed Shirou had. "What could you recall?"
"I was at the temple wanting to see what the magesand special familiars taking part in a ritual would wish for," Saying that Shirou recalled the news from not long ago. When he learned about what caused the fire. "Was that the ritual that caused the fire?"
One question had been somewhat answered. The question of why Shirou had been in Fuyuki. From the sounds of it he had a vague awareness of what the Holy Grail War was. A ritual between mages with special familiars was a rather simplistic but still accurate description of what it was. "In a way it did but the full story a bit more complicated then that."
Seeing how things were Kiritsugu might as well give Shirou a sort and brief version of what had happened. Given his and Illya's friendship with Rin they might learn the more detailed version eventually. "I took part in it as the representative for the Einzberns, the ritual as it were was a fight between mages their summoned Servants the victor getting the Holy Grail to grant them a wish."
Upon hearing the term Holy Grail Shirou just knew what that was referring to. A holy cup that was from christian tradition. Asking how he knew that was kind of obvious. A nearly faded piece of memory was likely the answer. "So, what happened?"
"The Grail had been tainted and so I figured it was best to destroy it before anything could happen," Just saying this brought up the vision the thing in the Grail had shown him. Killing both the image of Illya and of Irisviel was something that he didn't like remembering. 'No matter how many times I tell myself they aren't real I still feel guilt.'
Putting it all together wasn't hard for Shirou. The wish granting grail had been tainted and Kiritsugu destroyed it then rather risk a wish being made on it. Something happened because of it and it led to the fire. From there Kiritsugu would find and save him. 'That means the fire…' Shirou looked down as he knew what this meant. "Can it happen again?"
In theory Kiritsugu knew that the war could happen again. Even if they failed to find Illya and she grew up normally to the point it would become pointless to get her back, they still had the means to make a Lesser Grail. Another homunculus like Irisviel was well within the old golems abilities to do. There was also the Greater Grail that was probably still corrupted and gathering energy from the leyline. Assuming though there isn't a suitable replacement for Illya though the grail system would break down rendering the Greater Grail unable to do anything before losing itself. There was at least one silver lining in that the last scenario ended with the system dismantling by inability to properly function.
Still, it wouldn't hurt to have a plan just in case, which Kiritsugu did. There were still plenty of unused explosives that he had in storage. Death will likely claim him but at least he can give the thing that did it one last gift from beyond the grave. "It shouldn't don't worry."
For mages that would seem strange unless the person they were talking about was their apprentice. Unless it was something deemed common enough. Which Mystic Eyes generally did fall into. Eyes that had developed their own sort of magical ability. Considering her relationship with the two of them and how general the information was Rin figured she could talk to the both of them on it. Especially, as it seemed that they were most being self taught as their father really didn't know much beyond the basics of magecraft and an understanding of a few spells.
Illya, however, had something to say about the subject that caught both Rin and Shirou off guard. "You have Mystic Eyes?"
"Mystic Eyes of Binding," It was something that one of the check ups she had back at the Einzbern Castle picked up. She had developed them likely from a reaction from practicing magecraft. At least that was what she had believed when she was told alongside her parents. "I haven't actually used them more than twice to be honest."
At times Rin did have to remember that her friend, if she was honest with herself Illya and Shirou were practically her friends, was an Einzbern every now and again. It was possible that she was made with them or had developed them as she grew up. Although, that did make her wonder why the Einzberns would do the former if Illya was just a payment for an important catalyst. As that was the story she was given.
"Wait Illya you never told me you had Mystic Eyes," Illya felt like she had known she should have told him about it but given how little she used them it probably slipped her mind. Besides it wasn't like she had any reason to use them.
On one hand Rin still had some suspicions about Illya because of this. It could be possible that it was something of an accident or maybe a recent thing after whatever had been done to make Illya able to live normally. On the other hand, Illya having Mystic Eyes meant that she could try out getting used to the effects of them. Right now she didn't have anything but a means to see what kinds of Mystic Eyes a person might have. So, maybe a test was in order to see how powerful her eyes were. Lucky for her that she had the perfect test subject right next to her.
A few minutes later and the test subject, Shirou because who else, was sitting down with Illya looking into his eyes. Rin stood off to the side so as not to get caught in their way when she had Illya use them on Shirou. "You sure this is safe right?"
"Of course, Mystic Eyes of Binding aren't all that dangerous," Plus, Rin was certain Illya wouldn't have agreed to this if Shirou was in any serious danger. She pretty much adored her younger brother after all. "Alright, Illya begin."
Using Mystic Eyes were something that either came naturally at the owner's will or was something that could have happened constantly. For Illya it was the former. Looking into Shirou's eyes she actived them and Shirou was suddenly found his ability to move stiffened. On instinct he felt something within his eyes. A mental thread being pulled.
In an instant Illya felt herself fall under a sway of something by looking into Shirou's eyes. The moment this happened the both of them pulled back in confusion as whatever hold the other had was mutually served. Rin who was watching this was surprised by the sudden reaction.
"What just happened?"
"I don't know when Illya used her eyes on me I felt something react to it."
A few moments later Rin looked over Shirou's eyes and at the book on Mystic Eyes she had brought trying to see if the hypothesis she had developed after that whole event was correct. When Illya tried to use her Mystic Eyes of Binding on Shirou he had done something on instinct that broke it. Using a spell that was written in to give an idea on Shirou's eyes would either prove or disprove her theory. "Let's see..." Rin just looked at it and back at him. "You have Mystic Eyes of Enchantment."
Somehow Shirou was just an enigma to Rin. He was supposedly a first generation mage and yet he had a Magic Circuit of count and quality way above what people expect from most first generation mages. Despite that he was terrible at supposedly nearly all but basic magecraft. Now it seemed he somehow had Mystic Eyes and from the looks of it they were probably eyes he was born with. Both blessed and yet also seemingly cursed. Unless he was unable to know his element.
Shirou, however, had a different reaction to learning that he had Mystic Eyes. On some level he had known that he had them. A memory of what the other him showed him the fire from the perspective of the old him. He had thought it was self inflicted hypnosis.
"How is it that you can be both totally hopeless as Magecraft, and yet be gifted for it?!" As Rin voiced her frustrations at these turn of events. Shirou just wanted to sigh as Rin gave him a look of frustration and annoyance.
While Shirou seemed hopeless and rather willing to just take Rin's frustrations, Illya wasn't having it. Yes, Shirou was rather hopeless with mostly everything of magecraft. Save for a few basic spells, and recently alchemy which he mostly just followed what Illya had done, it wasn't his fault his element basically locked him out of it. "You're an Average One, why are you mad at him?!"
Average Ones, mages who had all five standard elements. Many mages would normally have one or two elements with more then three bring rare. For Rin being able to wield all five of the basic elements made her an exceptional individual. On top of that she had a Magic Crest something Illya knew neither her or Shirou would ever possess. "Yeah, well your a walking prana battery!"
That was indeed true given Illya's Magic Circuit count was greater then both Rin and Shirou's combined and that was taking into account Rin's Magic Crest. Her reserves theoretically outmatched them both. "What does that have to do with it?!"
"Could we not fight please?" Shirou found himself once again the moderator between the both of them. A reoccurring theme with their little group. A few moments passed before both girls ceased the fight that was likely growing between them both. "So, is there anything I should know about my eyes?"
"Well, they allow you to use a form of hypnosis," There was something weirdly ironic that Shirou couldn't use hypnosis magecraft and yet he had the ability to do it regardless. "It's not rare as far as Mystic Eyes go but that is because its commonly seen with Dead Apostles."
"I see…" There was a bit of awkwardness at hearing this. Though if Shirou was honest that was actually good to know. "So, when Illya was using her Mystic Eyes on me I must have triggered the use of my own."
Closing her book Rin really couldn't believe her luck. Not one but two Mystic Eyes users were right in front of her and both from a freelancer family that, as far as she knew, had as much luck as it was for her family to have her. 'What's next I befriend a Dead Apostle?'
Shirou really hoped that he was doing this correctly. Following Illya's notes on what she was doing when she tried to make potions or the like via alchemy would probably be helpful if she actually kept detailed notes. Her inborn gift for alchemy seemed to cause her to largely just do things and get a result. Once Shirou had questioned about it and Kiritsugu was able to give an explanation.
Illya likely had inherited her grandmother's memories. Well, the term grandmother was rather loosely in use. Justeaze Lizrich von Einzbern, was a homunculus who Shirou had learned was the genetic template for most Einzbern Homunculi including Illya's mother. Despite not being a full Justeaze model homunculus, curiosity of Kiritsugu's contribution to Illya, and being born naturally she still somehow had gained her grandmother's memories in some form.
'Oh, that was the poison that I drank,' In hindsight it was dumb of him to drink the potion that Illya had made when she admitted she had no idea what it did. It did tell him how a Dead Apostle healed though. Though he was told it wasn't healing or regeneration so much as the body regressing back to a point in time before the injury was inflicted.
Turns out poisoning a Dead Apostle caused it to be active. On the bright side the poison itself wasn't subjected to the effect. "Let's see one that turns an object blue for a time," That had no real use. Another note was a bit hard for Shirou to read as he was sure some of it was missing. "This supposed to make plants grow in the cold?"
Why would anyone want to know how to do that Shirou would never know. Maybe if someplace had the means to keep wherever it was in a constant state of cold but to his knowledge that seemed rather dumb. Who would even want to live in such a place? "Maybe I should try experimenting."
Illya was pretty much ok with it so long as he didn't destroy anything. As much as he wanted to try though he really didn't want to have something blow up in his face or accidentally create something that he would have no way to test unless he tried it. Shirou decided to give up on this front and instead turn to something else. As he walked to his part of the workshop he sat down and looked at the broken heater. Rather the formerly broken heater. With some usage of Structural Grasping he was able to figure out what was wrong and repair the thing.
"Trace On."
With a good two years of practice Shirou was able to further his Tracing as he and Illya came to call it. Now he didn't need to just grasp a sword or something with his hands to replicate it. The red fluid substance he used gave form to a simple Katana one made of modern foraging practices. Holding it in one hand he held the other out and traced into it a combat knife holding it in a reverse grip.
Both of them disappeared before Shirou projected a new set of objects. This happened again and again as he started to just cycle through everything he had seen and or grasped that was a blade. A metal throwing star from one of Taiga yakuza guys, the yari from the museum, kitchen knives, a razor blade, Katanas, a fireman's ax, and a shinai. Shirou focused he he recalled the brief glimpses of something in his memory.
Though still fragmented whenever he started to focus and practice like this he occasionally got glimpses into other weapons he had grasped like with the dagger he had first formed. A European bastard sword appeared in his hands. It was then dispersed as a pair of rappers appeared in each hand. They disappeared as a large Greatsword took their place in both his hands. Shirou could feel something at the edge of his mind. At first he figured it was another flash of an object he had grasped in the past. One phrase soon left his mouth.
"I am the Bone of my Sword."
A moment of pain consumed him as Shirou's consciousness was back standing on top of the hill. The ring of a ball seemed to echo through the world as swords of various forms were soon formed from the red fluid flowing between the cracked earth. Each one edged into the ground. The dark sky parted into a bright yet cloudy one. The red moon hanging overhead was made visible as the clouds rolled over it. He felt a pull towards something behind him but as he turned around he heard the sound of metal scraping against metal.
His right hand had turned into a bunch of blades. The blades soon traveled up his body as blades started to spurt out all over him. By the time he screamed there was no throat left to make a sound. A mass of metal was what he reduced too. Despite no longer having lungs he was choking, despite having no ears the sound of metal scraping metal echoed in his mind. The only thing that wasn't not a mass of metal was his heart.
Whatever his heart had become it burned. Every part of him soon burned. The metal that was his body was being burned and petaled by the fire that came from his heart. 'What is happening?!'
What was once his arms moved. Heat and metal moving to what had become his face as he tried desperately to claw at his face. Claws, he wanted his claws back now! The metal blades that had become his hands broke revealing his hands with his claws fully elongated. They ripped into the metal skin and tore at the steel.
Shirou gasped for breath as he reappeared free from the prison. His clothes and skin gone, his muscles exposed to the air around him. Burned and almost charred muscle tissue with blood literally flowing out of between the cracks and fibers. His body collapsed to the bloody ground.
Almost immediately afterwards the blood seemed to seep back into his body. His charred and burned muscles returned to how they had been. Finally, his skin just seemed to return first as burned and charred as his muscles. Finally, they returned to how they had been. All as if nothing had happened. Shirou just lay there on the top of the hill in a blasted wasteland of swords
"Shirou..."
For a moment he thought he heard a voice. It was so distant and yet so familiar. He couldn't make out much but he wanted to reach out to it. To the person the voice belonged to. A tear fell as he tried and couldn't.
"Shirou…"
The voice started to get replaced with another he recognized. The voice of someone that had become dear to him.
"Shirou..."
A second voice joined them. Just like the other, this voice was one he came to care for. Yet, both in different ways from the first one.
"Shirou!"
Shirou's eyes opened as he saw both Illya and Rin staring at him. He was lying on his back on the floor of the workshop. "What happened…"
"What do you mean what happened?" Rin couldn't believe it. He didn't even know why he had fallen unconscious. "You didn't show up to help make dinner so Illya and I came and we found you laying here unconscious."
Illya helped Shirou up to his feet. A look of worry as she had noticed that her notes had been moved along with a few of the alchemy ingredients. "Did this happen because you tried to make something with Alchemy?"
His mind slowly started to settle itself. His experience from before didn't fully leave his thoughts as it had felt real. Even if his body hadn't been literally turned into steel, his heart into fire, and his flesh basically charred and bleeding out it had all been real. That wasteland of swords wasn't just some vivid dream. Something within him knew what it was. "I was using projection and suddenly my mind was seemingly elsewhere."
"Let me guess you got a flash of memory?" Rin had seen it happen before. It wasn't something big as Shirou had them every now and again. It was mostly something that he thought was trivial. Although, being able to speak Mandarin better than her was anything but trivial! "Look whatever it was, you can tell us later alright."
With that Rin walked out of the workshop while Illya didn't move. She knew her brother far better than Rin and knew that he didn't just have a flash of memory. He hardly ever fell unconscious from such a thing. Once Rin was out of earshot Illya decided to ask him about it. "What was it really?"
"I honestly have no clue." As much as he knew that 8t was real. Shirou had little in the way of an idea as to what that even was. There was no way it was just some vision. Nor was it a memory of something. He didn't have any idea of what it could be. All he had was a single phrase that had triggered it.
'I am the bone of my sword…'
Her dreams had been strange lately. True they were mostly just the typical ones a person around her age and obsessions might have. Magical girl Illya was a typical one she could be said to have enjoyed but every now and again she had dreams that were not that. Whatever this was, it was like looking through the eyes of someone else. Someone who was familiar to her but Illya couldn't put her finger on it.
A dimly lit cave was where she and three others stood. Two to her side and one in front of the three of them. Each of their names replayed in her mind. Makiri Zolgen, Nagato Tohsaka, and Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg. Illya knew a bit about each of them due to being born and raised for eight years within the Einzbern Castle but for some reason she felt like she knew each person here more intimately. Which should be impossible as from what she knew this should be hundreds of years ago.
Words escaped the mouth of each there before Illya watched as for some reason "her" body seemed to move away from her consciousness and she watched a familiar figure walking on to the slap of stone. It was Justeaze, the Einzbern homunculus that served as the template for all Einzbern Homunculi. Illya watched as she didn't even react to the slab even as it crushed her.
The scene changed and Illya found herself back inside her own body. What was in front if her was a large pool within what she knew was the Einzbern Castle that she grew up in. Something was wrong as Illya had never been here before. Illya turned around and watched as two maids came down with something wrapped up on a stretcher. Neither acknowledged her existence and moved past her. They tossed the thing in the stretcher into the fluid and then left.
Curiosity caught the better of her as Illya walked over and looked into the fluid to see just what they had tossed in. Her eyes widened as she saw the cloth unwrap and start to dissolve. Revealing the face of a Einzbern Homunculus. Illya took a step back as she looked on with a mix of shock and horror before she saw others appearing from the fluid. Each one an Einzbern Homunculi who was in various states of being. No matter their position they all had their eyes on her.
"... what is this?" No answer came for her question for a few moments as if they expected her to know. As if the answer was obvious to all of them.
"This is the end for all Einzbern Homunculi."
"We're made, live, and are then recycled once we die."
"All of us are born with the knowledge of how we came to be and how we'll end up."
"You should know this sister."
"Sister?" Did they think she was like them? Yes, she was an Einzbern Homunculus, a Justeaze model like each of them, but she also wasn't like them. She had been born not simply made! "I have no sisters."
Those words seemed to cause the atmosphere of the room to change. Not a single one changed their expression but Illya could feel the contempt each had for her. Like her mere presence offended each one of them to no end.
"You're her."
"The daughter of our sister."
"The child who forsake her family."
"Why did you abandon us?"
The question was just absurd to hear. Illya hadn't abandoned anyone. Her father had come to take her back and now she was with her family. "How did I abandon you?"
Silence filled the room as none of them answered her. For it wasn't the place of any of them to answer her. There was only one of them who could do so. A voice that Illya hadn't heard in a long time spoke up and caused the girl to freeze on the spot. "Because without you none of this matters."
Slowly Illya turned and was greeted with her mother standing there a. Her outfit a shade darker then the one that Illya remembered her usually wearing and the air around her was of sadness. "Mama why..." Illya stopped as she felt something was off. The sadness surrounding her mother was fake and every part of her seemed to scream that this wasn't her mother. "You're not her!"
"What do you mean?" The image of Irisviel tried to look confused but Illya for some reason could see past it. Whatever it was wear her motherw face, used her image, and even tried to mimic her feeling of being around Illya.
All of which was fake. Something just felt wrong to Illya and she knew that no matter what this thing looked like it was only a false front. "I can feel something off about you," Anger swelled in the girls mind and in her voice. "So, who are you really and why do you look like my mama!"
Around them the images of the other Einzbern Homunculi were gone. There was only Illyasviel and the thing looking like Irisviel. Silence filled the room as the fake Irisviel just stared down at Illya. A small smirk formed before an almost manic laughter was heard coming from the fake's mouth. "I see, you really are the perfect vessel for it and they didn't even realize it," Fake Irisviel stopped laughing and hung her head down. "Maybe it's because they're nothing but machines in the form of flesh?"
A part of Illya wanted to take a step away from the thing wearing her mother's face. Dread was starting to feel the air all around her. Yet, she did wonder just what this thing was talking about. "A perfect vessel for what exactly?!"
"Why would I tell you?" Fake Irisviel expression turned into one of disgust. In her eyes there was pure contempt at the girl's existence. The shadow behind her back started to grow and transform into some kind of demonic creature. The true form of what was actually wearing Irisviel's face. The fluid around them turned into a deep crimson. "You should just die!"
Illya was pushed into the fluid and on contact could feel the curses rolling across her form. Panic and fear immediately spread through her mind as Illya on instinct reached out to something. A thread was pulled and before the curses could do anything Illya was gone. Instead of falling into a fluid of curses Illya found herself standing in darkness. Nothing else but darkness as far as her eyes could see. Confusion filled her as she looked around wondering where she was now.
"Hello?"
No response was given. There wasn't an echo or anything. It was like this was just a black void. Faced with few of any other choices Illya just started to randomly walk forward. After what seemed like a few minutes she saw something, or rather someone. Someone that looked around her age, height, and with the same white hair was standing with their back turned to her.
"Hey," Illya called out to them. There was no response. Walking up to them Illya tried again. "Hey, do you know where this is?"
Once again there was no sign of a response. Illya was certain that she was heard. There was no other way unless she was being ignored. "Hey, I asked…"
Turning the person around to face her, Illya was rendered speechless. Staring at her with a blank almost emotionless expression was herself! Illya was dumbfounded at what she was seeing. First, she had a glimpse at her Justeaze's last memories, at least she thought it was, followed by that thing that wore her mother's face, and now this.
"What is going on here…" Illya's finger touched the cheek of the other Illya and the moment she did so her memories flash before her. From her earliest moments, playing with her parents, learning with her mother, the time she spent with her father. Years past as the scenes continued on to the last time she would see her mother, the six months spent being told her father had betrayed and abandoned her. Finally the last memory of her father coming back to take her away from the Einzberns and to the start of her new life.
A thread was pulled and Illya was tossed away from wherever she was. Her eyes opened, greeted with the rays of the morning sun and the feeling of her brother next to her. 'What even was that dream?'
Japan and indeed good parts of Asia was mostly considered far from the eyes of both the Mages Association and the Church. It was why such a place was originally picked for the ritual between the Three Founding Families of the Holy Grail War. Lately, however, something had started to catch the attention of both organizations and while most didn't see anything strange about it one individual was starting to have suspicions.
'From the reports it seems that the current movements of Dead Apostles, and rogue magi began just after the Fourth Holy Grail War,' Kirei Kotomine looked at the copies of each one. The sightings were usually brief but the occasional fight did break out. Given the repeated sightings of certain Dead Apostles targets in multiple locations an investigation began as to what was going on. 'The Einzberns were attacked by a Dead Apostle…'
Anyone who read that report had no clue as to why such a thing would happen. Given their reclusive nature the Einzberns had not been attacked for a long time. Besides their occasional trade and interaction the Einzberns were known to be very much an afterthought to all but those who felt with alchemy and the Holy Grail War. Ironic given that they were a respected and known family, their detachment meant they were not seen as much of an issue.
Which made the sudden increase in supply trading rather jarring. Eventually the reason had come to light that they had been attacked by a Dead Apostle. A simple bloodsucker that couldn't just be. No, it had happened not even six months since the sightings peaked. "It had to be connected to the Dead Apostle Ancestors."
Somehow the Einzberns gained the gaze of them. The fact they were not in ruins meant that it was neither the Black Princess or the White Wing Lord whose attention they had claimed. At least not their direct attention as if such a thing had happened the Church and Mage Association would be on high alert and commit far more into figuring out what was going on. Instead, because they were able to repel the attack and kill the one who led it, both just saw it as an unrelated event.
There had to be a reason. A motivation behind why such a thing had happened. For a moment he wondered if Kiritsugu was the reason. 'Perhaps, or perhaps not.'
So, yeah about the giving of Shirou Mystic Eyes I had this planned out for awhile now. Plus, unlike having it come out of left field or coming up a scenario the fact that Enchantment is one common to Vampires in the Nasuverse was a good enough reason. It serves as a good laugh but also they serve a role. Mainly to give Shirou a means for hypnosis that I think he can't actually do.
Anyway, I'll cya all next time and share any thoughts you may have.
