This took a lot longer then I had liked a combination of writing fatigue, life irl, and a few extremely dumb arguments online is to blame. Anyway, as always thank you everyone for staying with me this far.
Disclaimer: Not the owner, probably would make the franchise a bigger mess if I was. Just saying.
Returning home Shirou and Illya didn't bother with making anything to eat. Today had been hectic for the both of them and even more so for Shirou. Luvia would probably need a full day to come to terms with basically everything. Mostly being about the real Shirou Emiya, or was it Shirou Sakatsuki? That was actually something that he had to ask himself. Technically, the latter was his birth name, while legally speaking his name was Shirou Emiya thanks to his adoption by Kiritsugu. Really he found himself not caring all that much on either.
"Where have you both been?" Taiga was there at the door to greet them both. Her expression was one of a mix of worry and confusion as they hadn't ever gone out this late ever before.
Illya let out a sigh as she remembered that they didn't leave Taiga a note or anything. She knew that there was something they had forgotten to do but Illya couldn't quite remember what it was as the whole situation with Erikson had taken all their attention. "Its a long story."
A few minutes later both Illya and Shirou relay to Taiga what had just happened. From Shirou encountering another Dead Apostle, Angelica Ainsworth who had been here to deal with another Dead Apostle named Erikson, and then the whole thing with Erikson kidnapping Rin. Taiga had heard about the news talking about a kidnapping with no identity given, which was obvious in hindsight given that it was Rin and wasn't a normal kidnapping, but hearing what had happened was something else. Especially from Shirou who went on about how he had fought Erikson one on one and killed him. What concerned her was the look he had when she recalled it.
Pure satisfaction mixed in with joy. For a moment she had to be reminded that Shirou wasn't human. He was a Dead Apostle, or a vampire, a creature that drank blood. There was bound to be something that was more unsettling about him despite how human he appeared. Instead of focusing on that, Taiga decided to focus on something else. "Is Rin alright?"
"Hopefully so," They wouldn't know the side effects would come. From what she saw Rin was ok, her circuits were overused to a dangerous degree but they should return to normal after a few days hopefully. There was no sign of her turning into a Dead Apostle either. "Though given that Luvia knows about Shirou being a Dead Apostle Rin is likely going to know as well."
That was probably not going to be rather pleasant. Rin was, as she had learned, supposed to be the mage overseeing the whole city. Not only had she basically been kidnapped by a Dead Apostle another one had lived in plain sight in front of her for literally years. "I mean it's not like Rin will hate Shirou right?"
Taiga liked to think she had a good understanding of Rin's personality, especially given she knew that she was a mage. Sure, learning a bit about how unsettling, and downright cruel, most mages generally where did make her question a bit about what Rin did. Illya and Shirou both were able to put her fears to rest as from what they gathered the Tohsaka family had been one of the exceptions to how mages usually acted. Something probably owing to the family history or how they had entered into the Mages Association. All in all that just meant her picture of Rin was now more complete and she could say without a doubt that Rin wasn't one to just kill Shirou over what he was. Especially not since he did save her.
While Taiga had a more positive outlook both Shirou and Illya had a different idea about it. The Tohsaka family had a connection to the Church, Rin had been under the guardianship of a member of the Church, and had just been subjected to something at the hands of one. Nevermind they had been keeping this from her for years. Illya knew that her friendship with Rin could be in jeopardy. She also knew that Rin had a thing for Shirou just like Luvia.
Speaking of Luvia, Illya had wondered how she was handling everything. She had dropped using the pet name last she saw. Shirou had likely told her everything about himself to her as he had promised to do so. 'I wonder how she is dealing with it?'
Whatever feelings she had for him was probably gone now. At least that was what she was able to get. There wasn't any worry about her telling the Church or the Mages Association. Luvia made that clear after they had left. Rin's reaction was one that neither knew how she would take it.
Images passed through her mind, each one a memory that felt so long ago. From when she first tried magecraft, as she watched Sakura be given away to the Matous, the last time she saw her father, finally one of the days she spent with Illya and Shirou. Once the last memory was flared away she saw a crystal that was cracked and beaten slowly beginning to take shape into something else. From the generic crystal came a perfectly cut diamond.
Slowly Rin's eyes opened as the morning rays woke her from her sleep. For a few moments she stared with a bit of confusion before the memories of what had happened flooded back into her mind. In a panic she jumped out of her bed and immediately raced to find a mirror. When she did she stared into it and was immediately relieved. Her eyes were not the classic red of a Dead Apostle. Nor did she seem to have any claws like they typically did. 'If I am not turned and I'm not dead then what happened?'
There was no way around it. As everything stood she should have either been killed or she should have been turned into a Dead Apostle. True Ancestor blood being injected directly into her would have most certainly done the latter and part of that ritual would have done the former. Slowly Rin activated her circuits wondering just what had happened to them. To her surprise her magic circuits felt somewhat off. Checking, she wondered if it was because they had been damaged, the pain she had felt from their overuse as the ritual went forward lingering in her mind, and yet they didn't show any signs of damage from overuse. Something that should have happened given that she was almost very certain her circuits had been pushed well past their limits. Changes to her appearance from overuse was also theoretically possible but so far none of that had happened.
When she was done with her worrying and confusion Rin found a note laying near her with a single gem over it. Picking up the gem and reading the note, which was from Luvia, she went on to what had happened to her. Rin had to read this twice over to make sure what she was reading was correct. Apparently, another Dead Apostle helped Luvia, Illya, and Shirou to get her back. She skipped a bit over the state they had found her end as she had an idea but the revelation of why she wasn't a Dead Apostle almost made her throw up. A slug thing that had forced itself down her throat was the answer. Sure, it had worked but Rin wondered why they would just let that happen. The last part was what caught her attention the most and made her do a double take and reread it again to be sure she had read it correctly.
"Shirou's a Dead Apostle?!" Not just a simple one but apparently he was the missing Successor for the Twenty-second. As in the Successor for The Dark Miko, Yuuka Sakatsuki. No, not just her Successor apparently he was her son! Well, creation that she probably treated as her child. The more rational part of her mind knew that most likely was the case. Even Kirei believed it to be the most likely case.
Rin's mind The truth about Shirou, Illya, and she didn't know what else. Tossing back on her clothes she raced outside and was met with smells that faintly edged on her nose. A few smells that she couldn't describe. The note had talked about side effects from whatever had happened to keep her from becoming a Dead Apostle. 'Well, I'll just have to learn to live with this.'
Finally, she came up to the Emiya residence and stood out in front of the place. There was a bit of a hesitation for a moment as she found that everything felt different now. Instead of just coming over to the home of her friend, as well as her crush, she was instead coming over to people that she had thought she knew but didn't. Probably the same feeling anyone who learns the truth of magecraft would to anyone who kept it a secret. 'Its now or never.'
Inside the Matou residence Sakura was a bit worried by the fact that Shinji had not returned last night. Sure, he may have hit her two nights ago but that was because he had learned that Zouken had her as his heir. Although, Sakura knew calling her his heir was misleading. Zouken Matou did not intend to die and pass on anything. Even if his current existence was barely one that could be said to be stable. The knowledge about this was something she was able to get out from the torture sessions that was her "training" but Sakura didn't think it mattered. No one could kill him as he was now as far as she was concerned.
Shinji likely had no idea about any of this. About just what their seemingly elderly grandfather was. No one but her probably knew and even she only knew some bits and pieces about just what he was. Another thing that showed how much her position as heir was pointless. Her understanding of magecraft was abysmal which reflected that. Sakura learned more about magecraft from overhearing lessons her sister had then she had here then she had under Zouken. He only allowed her to read about things most mages knew as there wasn't seemingly any real need to teach her beyond that. Shinji probably knew more than she ever will despite not showing any talent in magecraft.
"So, you're the incomplete Lesser Grail," Before Sakura appearing in tendrils of darkness was a woman who looked a lot like Illya dressed in a black and red somewhat religious outfit. Sakura was taken aback by the sudden appearance of the woman. "Do you have any idea what has become of you?"
"Wh-what?" Sakura had no idea who she was or what she was getting at. For that matter just who and what was she? Furthermore, how did she get past her grandfather? "Wh-who are you?"
There was a brief debate on if she should give the girl, the incomplete Lesser Grail, an answer. A part of her didn't feel like actually answering the girl's question and instead just completing why she was here. Although, that pull wasn't all that strong as in the end it didn't really matter at all. "I am Ruler and you have something that I want."
Hearing this Sakura wondered just what she meant. She hadn't ever met her. She almost wondered if it wasn't something from her or if it was something to do with her grandfather. "I-I don't know…"
Sakura stopped as she was grabbed by a rather strong grip that the woman betrayed. Justeaze looked into the eyes of the girl in front of her. This was the incomplete Lesser Grail created by the Matou family. Everything she needed to know was now before her. A fragment of the previous Lesser Grail was within her and had been subsumed into her Magic Circuits. A brute force method to create a Lesser Grail that had basically transfused it into her very being while damaging her beyond words. There was sadness as she looked at the girl who had been subjected to this. 'Is that…' Something else was within her. Several faint familiars and a large decayed soul fragment. One very familiar to her. 'I see you have become a monster.'
Doing this now would be a mercy. As well as killing someone who was long dead himself. Reaching through the connection to the Greater Grail, into the soul that her body was projecting from, she pulled on the Third Magic within. In life Justeaze had a limited use of the Third Magic and Ruler was even more so. However, thanks to the connection that Sakura unknowingly had with the Lesser Grail as well this should be enough. The Lesser Grail within her Magic Circuits was agitated and her circuits was forcefully opened again. Sakura didn't even scream as her body started to convulse, her circuits burned, and her mind was filled with pain.
Instead she just looked at her in confusion as her mind was slowly fading back into unconsciousness. "W-why?"
Sakura collapsed onto the floor as the second Lesser Grail began to slowly self-destruct. Justeaze looked on at the twitching unconscious girl before her as a mix of emotions ranging from sadness at her plight, to another part of her having uncaring indifference to the whole thing. A part of her did want there to be some other way but she knew that was impossible. "I'm sorry."
With that said she turned around and dematerialized leaving the girl to die. Sakura's body ceased moving a second afterwards and things under her skin seemed to move under her skin. The Crest Worms under her started to react and tried to drain the od like they usually did but the moment they connected themselves to her circuits to do so they started to wiggle in pain as the moment they did they ended up tied into what was happening. The od they stored up from her now being fed back into the self-destructing Lesser Grail.
A sudden pulse of od from within her Magic Circuits started to change. A wish was made on the Grail. One made by the only person who can. A deep desire was within Sakura and normally the Lesser Grail wouldn't be given a wish itself. Sakura wasn't a proper Lesser Grail and nor was her wish something that required much in the way of mana. Especially, given that all was needed was already there. Her wish to be free was now granted.
Shinji knew that if he returned home his grandfather was going to kill him. He had seen a few of his insects following him about. If you lived in the Matou household long enough you tend to be able to pick up on if you are being watched by Zouken's familiars. For Shinji he didn't put much thought into them for a long time. They where just everywhere and he could easily just drown them out. Now, he was paranoid and on high alert for one of them. 'I spent all night trying to look for some place to sleep that I was certain wasn't crawling with those things.'
"Well, there you are," Shinji froze up as out of the shadows in the alleyway he had tried to move through there was his grandfather. Zouken Matou stared at the boy with a frown on his face. "Do you know what you have done boy?"
While it was technically Erikson doing taking advantage of the boy thanks to the revelation of him not being his heir. Something in hindsight Zouken should have seen coming. Now, thanks to his stupid impulse he was going to have to deal with the fallout especially if the Tohsaka and Edelfelt families come knocking to him about the actions of his grandson. Shinji had become a liability to him now. A fact, that the terror on his grandson face told him that Shinji knew it as well.
He knew that he should run but all around him he could see the insects moving about. "L-look I messed up b-but…" Shinji knew there was nothing he could say to save himself. In the panic filled state he missed his footing and fell n to the ground. "Y-you screwed me over!"
Why he said that Shinji didn't know. Maybe it was a last act of defiance against someone who he knew was going to kill him. Either that or the lack of sleep and paranoia had made him say what he was feeling right now. Zouken didn't seem all that bothered by the accusation. On some level it very likely was true but Zouken didn't care. "Do you have any idea what your little escapade has cost me?"
Luckily he was able to persuade the last of the two candidates into leaving with the threat of the Holy Church coming to the city. Having the Ainsworth girl staying here longer than needed was a recipe for disaster. Especially, given she could reveal to the Tohsaka and Edelfelt family about what he was now. Still, his actions would put their gaze on him more than he would like. Whatever plans or reason to keep Shinji as far as he cared was no longer a thing. Besides, Zouken's current body was starting to become unstable. The horde of insects all around them started to swarm around Shinji as Zouken's body dissolved as the various things that made him up raced towards Shinji.
"G-get away from me!" It was pointless as the swarm moved on him. The feeling of things giving up and thought places they shouldn't, fleshing being tore open, and the sensation of the insects eating him alive! His grandfather was eating him alive! 'Somebody help me!'
Shinji's tried to scream but his lungs were being filled by the insects that were starting to nest within them. Ripping through the tissue and latching into his still beating heart. Worms buried into the organ and forced through the very chambers of his heart. Stretching it as he was subjected to a heart attack and the restarting of the the organ. His body moved against his own will as his nerves were pieced and his tendons being pulled on by the invaders. Something began to invade his mind as laughter that was wasn't his own echoed through his mind.
Zouken Matou wanted to laugh as he felt the pathetic attempts by the boy to block him from mentally breaking his mind. Magic Circuits flared but they were pathetic and recently awakened. They meant nothing more but minor annoyance that at worst were making things hot for him. As he laughed at the struggle Zouken suddenly stopped. In in instance he felt something assault him, and in that assault he felt his connection to life slipping away. 'Wh-what how?!'
Half of his decayed soul was within a single worm that he had placed inside of Sakura's heart. That half held with it arguably the most stable part of him. The worm was now dead. Zouken Matou whole swarm could feel the backlash as the thing that formed the core of what he was now was killed. Immediately his connection and control over each part of himself was weakened greatly. 'Stop it, stop it, stop it!"
The boys thoughts pushed into Zouken's n as he felt himself now reeling from the drawback of connecting himself with another person's mind. When he did this normally his poor target didn't have the means to fight back as the pain he inflicted destroyed their mind as their body died. Now, with the backlash of having half of his soul gone the tables had turned. He could feel the insects that were far away from the bulk of him right now dropping dead. Each one that did weakened his control more and more. As this happened Zouken's mind was clouding which furthered his loss of control. Focusing all his attention to stop this then left him vulnerable to attacks from Shinji's panicking mind.
A snowball effect was happening and Zouken Matou had no way to stop it. Control faded, his familiars were dropping dead, and he was losing his connection to life. A few of the familiars within the boy started to attack each other. How that came to be was simple to explain as he had lost control of them, those within the boy's body seemed to form a pack with him. 'No, I can't… just fail…'
His mind was soon gone as his control waned and his soul was diminished. Without any real thought remaining, the last of the Dead Apostle that had been Zouken Matou gave out.
Slowly Shinji felt himself open his eyes. Pain was the only thing his body knew. From head to feet there was only that ax and the phantom feeling of the worms and insects that had been moving through his body. It took him a few minutes before he was able to gather the strength just to get up. All around Shinji could see the unmoving bodies that were the familiars of Zouken Matou. His breathing was erratic and his body shook as he looked at the blood covered clothes. The holes in his body formed by the things that had made up Zouken Matou had closed up, not healed, his body going to be covered in so many scars, but closed up.
Under his skin though he could feel things wiggling about under his body, slowly stitching and fixing what they could. The familiars within him hadn't died like the rest of their kind. By a extreme fluke they had immediately moved from being Zouken's familiars into becoming his. Something that would have disgusted Shinji to literally no end if he wasn't already in dealing with the sudden near death experience plus a little extra bit of broken memories and thoughts that had bleed over from the now dead, Dead Apostle. Of particular note were some of his plans for Sakura and himself.
"What… the hell!"
Gilgamesh turned his head as he saw Ruler materialize back within the building right in front of the makeshift Lesser Grail she was in the process of creating. Apparently, the Fuyuki Church kept a few fragments from the previous Grail Wars of the destroyed Lesser Grails. Wasn't much and as destroyed objects they held nothing but apparently she could use them to help fashion a new Lesser Grail. "So, I take it the little problem you had was dealt with?"
Ruler turned her head to him for a moment as she restarted the process of creating a new Lesser Grail. One that was going to take priority over the other. As well as allow her a limited degree of control over the whole ritual that was to happen within the next two years. "Yes, the other incomplete Grail is no more."
Justeaze had to deal with it as the system it seems wouldn't allow another Lesser Grail to be in use when there was already a second possible one. With that dealt with the Greater Grail should be able to register the one she was making and using her own connection to the Greater Grail she should be able to have this one hold a limited degree of control on the summoning processes. Not enough to choose the servant in question, but hopefully enough to choose which classes will take part in and prevent any funny business that she didn't sign off on. Speaking of which there was something Ruler wanted to talk about with the incarnated servant.
"You know you could become a master yourself," One would think it was against the rules of the Heavens Feel to have a servant be a master. To a degree they are correct but there were loopholes. Casters were technically mages themselves and could in theory summon a servant and incarnated servants were treated like a magus via a technicality. "You have more than enough prana for it from what I can see."
As tempting as that sounded to summon a servant from the Throne of Heroes to do what he wanted and take part in the ritual for his amusement Gilgamesh thought against it. As much as he would personally love to directly take part in the festivities he would rather not have to deal with a lot of upstarts or have everyone work against him. Plus, he didn't fully trust Ruler. "Tempting but I'll have to decline."
Gilgamesh's rejection didn't phase Ruler as much. No, her goal was to ensure the ritual was finally completed and a winner was named at last. Which was why she was doing this at all. "Very well then," At the center of the circle a small pulse came through from the object in the center. It seemed that this was finally recognized as an incomplete Lesser Grail. 'It will take a while but hopefully I can have it finished before the end of the month.'
Broken remains of memories, thoughts, and desires flooded into the subconscious. A disorganized mess that could be said to just randomly appear in one's mind before slowly the memories started to click together. With that Sakura's mind was slowly starting to be put back together. Watching one's life reply through there mind was supposed to invoke strong feelings from the person who had experienced them. For Sakura though these felt detached to her. Less like you were reliving them and more that these memories were like reading a book. Everything felt dull and lifeless. Much like she was just watching someone live a life that she was told was her own.
Slowly consciousness returned to her. Picking herself up Sakura noticed how her body ached in pain and felt rather tired and hot. Her head spun with nausea for a few moments as Sakura slowly stumbled about the Matou residence until it subsided. Her mind tried to piece together what had happened to her. Try as she might she just couldn't remember anything about what had happened to her that led to this. All she knew was that something had pulsed through her body and her Magic Circuits arched. Speaking of her Magic Circuits, Sakura almost on a whim opened them. Something that had been done to her forcefully by the Crest Worms and constantly drained as to keep her from using anything but basic magecraft deemed not a threat. Something she hadn't done in a long time willingly. Sakura knew that she needed a mental trigger, overhearing it when Rin was receiving lessons on it, and had first used hers to open her Magic Circuits once before she was tossed to Zouken.
Thing is she actually didn't remember what her mental trigger even was. One would think that was a bad thing. However, it really wasn't as mages could create several triggers if they wished. Most really didn't as it was rather pointless to even do and could actually cause havoc if one kept alternating. None of this Sakura knew about of course. Still, closing her eyes she focused her mind as an image appeared.
A ray of light was soon consumed by a ever expanding darkness.
Her circuits flared to life, having been allowed to be open under the command of Sakura's will for the first time in years. Not being forced open by the actions of her torture. 'Strange shouldn't there only be forty of them?'
Sakura knew that was the number both she and Rin had. Both of the same quality as each other. Equal potential was what they both had. For some reason she looked like she now had seventy circuits. How that happened she didn't have a clue at all. She was never given a Magic Crest, the Crest Worms that had buried into her didn't give her one, and from what she knew you could just randomly develop more of them. 'Wait, shouldn't the worms inside me already be agitated?'
They had to be. Using her circuits would be enough of a reason for them to start to react. To consume the energy she was giving off. Yet, there was nothing coming from them. There was only one logical reason for this to be the case. All of them were dead within her. Something that shouldn't happen unless Zouken was also dead. Looking around the residence she saw the few insect familiars that crawled about laying on the ground unmoving and dead. All of them were tied to Zouken and if they were all dead then he had to be dead.
Sakura stopped as she looked at herself in a mirror hanging in the halls. Her eyes were still violet in color a bit brighter but the biggest change was her hair. It was not the purple that it had happened due to the alterations of the Matou. Nor was it the original color that she had had back before she was given away to the Tohsaka. Blonde hair was what greeted her. The same blonde color as Luvia, her cousin who didn't even know that she was Rin's sister. 'No,' Sakura gripped the ribbon in her hair. 'We both agreed that we are no longer sisters.'
Yes, she knew why she kept the ribbon. The importance to her now though felt so hollow. Besides, it was clear to her by her interactions that Rin had been one to fully embrace this fact. All her memories showed her that she for some reason refused. No, not for some unknown reason as it was clear the reason was to hold on to some hope or have something to get her through and endure what was done to her. All of which seemed pointless given how much Rin tried to ignore their connection. "Guess I should as well."
"So, let me get this straight," Rin looked at the two seated siblings as they finished explaining everything to her. Her gaze moved to Illya who had explained her actual origins. "You're father had actually married into the Einzbern family, and you're a homunculus that was born naturally."
Somehow that explanation made both more and even less sense. It did explain as to why Illya would be with her father more than her being handed over by the Einzberns as he was by marriage an Einzbern himself. Although, maybe he did have a falling out at one point if the fact he had lived and died here in Fuyuki for the last few years was any indication. The part about Illya being born though seemed nearly impossible. Nearly as the Einzbern Homunculi were probably able to be made to have the ability to do so it didn't seem to fit with how her family had expected from them. Yet, given that there was no reason for Illya to lie, or rather go along with her fathers story as Illya pointed out, this had to likely be the truth.
Rin turned her attention over to Shirou. The Dead Apostle Successor that had been living under her nose for the last eight years. As well as her crush much to her embarrassment now that she thought about it. "Kiritsugu saved you from the fire, which was basically created by the destruction of the Lesser Grail, and you have basically forgotten everything about what you are until six months later?"
"Not all at once," At most his memory did come back in flashes but now it was pretty much all there. Though some memories are faded to various degrees it wasn't like it was much of an issue. "I only just regained all of my memories after I confronted Erikson."
By confronted Rin figured he meant fought and killed. Something Shirou was probably strong enough to do normally. At that thought she thought about the thing she had gotten to check his element and realized that it was probably completely pointless. "Are you really only able to use basic magecraft?"
Rin had expected it to be a lie. His magecraft was probably something disgusting or extremely dangerous. Which probably fits given what he really was and who he was created by. "Well, truth is my element is sword and well I am locked out into just using what you know," Held out his hand as a red fluid appeared in it and then formed into a simple European sword. "The only thing is I pull from the blood of my Reality Marble when I use Projection and they aren't hollow if its a weapon."
It was a basic summary of how it worked. There was a lot more about it. About how his Reality Marble could record and seemingly replicate the powers and mystery weight of whatever weapon he seen. He probably could have shown it off with True Demon Neardark but that would probably be a bit too much for Rin. As for Rin she was just looking at the sword in his hand and felt strangely underwhelmed. Sure, a Reality Marble that could project swords from blood really did sound amazing but she felt like she expected something else. "So, you can make swords from blood?"
"Basically," It was a rather blunt but true statement to how his magecraft worked. Honestly, Rin was taking this all rather well all things considered.
"So, you both kept all of this from because you didn't trust me at all?" Rin placed her cup down as she didn't know if she should be understanding given that both of them had some reason not to say anything. She was hurt they didn't tell her about it despite feeling like they were actually friends. Most of all she was annoyed they kept this from her even when she told them her secrets! "You're both so stupid!" She pointed at the both of them as she just defaulted to anger. "Seriously, you both shouldn't have kept this from me it wasn't like I was going to report Shirou to the Church or something!"
"You wouldn't have?"
Rin crossed her arms over her chest and rolled her eyes at Shirou question. Sure, she should tell Kirei or send a report to the Mages Association about Shirou's existence, he was something that both the Association and the Church was somewhat keeping eyes open for, but Rin didn't feel right doing so. Shirou didn't seem all that of a problem to humans. A rarity given the number that to Rin's knowledge only included four others. Which is even more surprising given who his creator/mother was and her own association with the Black Princess. "Why you're obviously not all that threatening given you tend to help anyone who asks."
Shinji groaned and coughed as he slowly made his way back home. Under his body the familiars were trying to patch up the rather brutal work that they had done to his body. Something that was basically arguably causing more harm than good in the long run. Maybe if he had more control over them Shinji might be able to keep them from tearing apart his tendons and muscles every time he made a minor move before putting them back crudely. At least he thought that was the only thing that was going on.
Entering into the residence he wondered just what had happened to Sakura after Zouken had suddenly died. She was supposedly filled with his Crest Worms for something he didn't quite know as to why. Whatever it was couldn't be good and after experiencing a taste of what he could do Shinji was feeling really utter guilt. Zouken had no intention of making her his heir, or really any heir given his goal was immortality. 'A Dead Apostle wanting to live forward…'
Entering into the building he felt his legs giving out. Shinji fell to his hand and knees as he coughed up a few drops of blood. Inside him he could feel his lungs being fixed as best as possible by the worms within him. "Damn it all!"
Was this what it was like for Sakura at all times of the day or was it that she had gotten used to it without anyone noticing. Picking himself up he wandered through the place as he tried to look for a sign of if Sakura was home or not. When he got to the kitchen he found a blonde girl reading one of the books on how to use magecraft with a cup of tea on the table next to her. The blonde girl looked up from her book as soon as she felt the presence of someone entering the room. "You're finally home."
"Sakura?" Shinji had to wonder for a moment if his eyes were deceiving him. Was her hair color something to do with the death of Zouken? Given she was related to the Edelfelts did it happen to be her natural hair color? Both questions though could be asked with one sentence. "What happened to you?"
That's the question that she had asked herself after a while. Sakura hadn't figured out what had happened to her as she had noticed slight changes here and there. For one her eyes seemed to see better in the darkness and shadow, her sense of smell was a bit stronger, and her sense of hearing had also gotten stronger. Her nails were rather sharpened yet weren't full on claws, her canines had lengthened but not so into outright fangs along with the rest of her teeth sharping a bit, and she had noticed her physical strength was much greater. A faint feeling of knowing what was around her, like some kind of sixth sense, was just there now. The only other thing she noticed was that she preferred to eat more raw foods. That she discovered after eating something she cooked.
Whatever had happened to her had changed her. Not just superficially with her hair and even her eyes to an extent. If she had to hazard a guess right now, she was no longer human. Such a thing would bring panic to nearly anyone including most mages who knew that such a thing could cause them issues. Sakura felt nothing of the sort. In fact, she was happy at the idea of no longer being human. The only thing she needed to know was just what she was. "I don't fully know right now but I think I like it."
"Like it?" She didn't know what had happened to her and yet she liked whatever it was. Shinji was worried that it had something to do with Zouken and yet something told him that this wasn't what he had planned. There was just something that told him that none of this was what he had wanted. 'Just what had happened to do this to her?'
Sakura looked at Shinji and the way he was leaning against anything he could find. His clothes were torn at places and she could make out fresh scars under them. Furthermore, his hair was starting to show signs of lightening and if she was correct had shortened by a bit. "Did something happen to you?"
He froze for a moment as he recalled the recent attempt by his grandfather to eat and wear him as a suit of flesh to hide what he had become. All because he proved a problem thanks to having helped a Dead Apostle who had, in hindsight, taken advantage of his own plans. When that passed he answered. "It was grandfather he…" Again they acted up as they noticed the damage they had done and tried to fix it again. "He wanted to use me as another of his flesh suits the bastard!"
Normally Sakura would have felt bad for Shinji having to go through that. The meek girl had been broken down enough that she had justified why he had hit her without bothering with talking back or explaining what was actually going on to him. "That sounds just like him," In hindsight she wondered why she didn't bother with killing herself. Better yet why hadn't uncle Kariya gone to the Church about him being a Dead Apostle? "I take it he died as he tried to take you over?"
"Yes…" She was acting so calm and disinterested about this whole thing. Given what she had probably been through, Shinji expected her to be overjoyed or something. Hell, being afraid of him would be understandable but there was none of it. 'What the fuck is going on here!'
A faint blizzard blew around the Einzbern Castle like it always did. Surprising how the seasons could change and yet the area around this castle in Germany was always stuck in winter. Part of it was defense as the cold was unseen by anyone until they passed through the strong bounded field surrounding the castle. The cold winds hid all sorts of things that the Einzberns had around the area. Yet, despite all that the castle had been attacked almost eight years ago by a Dead Apostle. Just thinking about it made her think of that dream.
So vivid was it to almost be considered a memory. Her father coming back and taking her away from this place. When she had woke up wondering what had happened she had learned that was just a dream. He had never came to get her. No matter how much she told herself that wasn't real the dream never seemed to fade from her mind. Placing her hand on the window watching the blizzard roll by she thought about him still.
Kiritsugu was dead, something the Einzberns had discovered after they had sent another pair of homunculi to check on the castle in Fuyuki. The traitor to the Einzberns was dead. Her father had died and yet she wondered if that was that. Anger that had no one to direct at. A hollowed existence for a girl who was being cut open and made into a vessel for the Lesser Grail. To die in a ritual to happen in the next two years unless she could win and succeed in using the Third Magic to live past it. To complete her family goal.
As she stared outside, Jubstacheit looked on from behind her. When she had first awakened he had been extremely confused and a bit worried when she started acting and somehow had the memories of Illyasviel. He knew that shouldn't have been possible. Perhaps if the Third Magic had been used through a connection with the original but that was only theoretical as far as the golem knew. Regardless it seemed that it had been a blessing in disguise. The last memory she had was of Kiritsugu coming to get the original Illyasviel. A memory that could quickly be explained away as a dream.
Losing two more Einzbern Homunculi to what he suspected was another Dead Apostle attack in Fuyuki was annoying. According to the Church representative there wasn't any signs of the Dead or missing people so he didn't take that seriously. What they did learn though was that Kiritsugu Emiya was dead. Something which had ended up being a blessing as the moment the clone heard about it she just became easier to deal with. A hollowed shell who went along with hot much convincing into taking the role that her original would have had. Speaking of the original Jubstacheit had thought to go looking for her but there was no need. If she was found out then they would just ignore her so long as she proved to be no issue to them.
Jubstacheit turned and left the room as he focused on the upcoming fifth Holy Grail War. As it turned out the mana gathered by the fourth Lesser Grail hadn't been used up and as such some of it had been flooded back into the Greater Grail jumpstarting the whole ritual by decades. 'This time every precaution should be met to ensure that the purpose of the Einzberns is fulfilled.'
Already they had a servant in mind, one that should be strong enough to defeat any who showed up in the war. Besides that he had also made sure that both maids that will go with her were more than strong enough to deal with any possible intrusion. Jubstacheit could be said to be paranoid but after having a Dead Apostle interfering with them not once but possibly twice he was not taking any chances. Add in that he didn't trust any outside help and with all their hopes put on the girl they would need any edge possible. This would be the war that no one could stand in the way of the Einzberns!
So, if you no idea Sakura disconnect is connected to her wish to be free. You can probably guess how that was interrupted by a limited and slowly being destroyed Lesser Grail fragment. No Dark Sakura though I guess you can question if that is a god thing or not going forward. Oh, and Zouken is indeed dead. Yeah he was never going to be an antagonistic force in the Fifth Grail War. I already have like four or six depending on how you look at it as is. One of them is getting cut off and it's the worm.
Anyway, I will cya all next time.
