Truth II
Slur Street...
It's located somewhere in the British Museum. Reborn knew where he went in with Juri but if he asked if he can go in without a mage companion? He'd never find it due to many, many diversive Bounded Fields that keep people and unwanteds out.
'To be able to find it, you need Magic Circuits, or a specific inborn supernatural ability like Psychic Powers and other talents. Meaning, your hooded friend who has that ability even if he didn't have Circuits can find this place. He'll have to watch out for other security though, before he ends up dissected in a lab somewhere.' Juri would tell him. 'You guys are unique, and that, is tempting.'
Reborn wisely did not ask. He'd rather be able to sleep at night, thanks.
'Your school is in this area huh?'
'Yes. Modern Magecraft Theory is in this area of London. Its a friendly, morally-humane faculty of Clock Tower, so you're safe here. In other faculties, you're not.' Reborn did not like what she implied there, worrying for her mindset.
'Professor Velvet is Regent Lord El-Melloi who ran the place for years now. And as he spams out first-class and second class students under his classroom, Miss Reines was able to rebuild the El-Melloi Faction in Clock Tower, after the previous faction turned thieving backstabbers and stole assets. She hunted them all down without mercy and took everything back.' she said. 'The previous head, her uncle died without kids and securing his legacy, making the Archibald Elders select Reines as she was the most compatible with the Archibald Magic Crest...and she had to deal with what being heir entailed.'
'Magic Crest?'
'It's proof you are successor of your clan. Each clan head will tear off a piece or three of their own magic circuits, pour in their knowledge into it, and add it to the Clan's Magis Crest. It's the heir's duty to carry it until they reach retirement age and add more to it. The bigger and more elaborate the Magic Crest, the longer your family's history is and History and Age is everything in our society. The older your lineage, the more respectable. Even moreso if you've accomplished so much. Losing it is thus, beyond the pale.'
'And these Twelve Lords?'
'They're around since the time of King Solomon. THAT Solomon from the Bible.' Reborn did a double-take. 'Their families began in his time. Granted, there are so many magus clans, but only twelve remained supreme to this day. Hence, twelve lords. The other families that came after are their students, who later established their own clans. I'd call it 'clan', but there can only be one heir as there's only one Magic Crest...and that led to fratricide and sororicide for the right to inherit their family. Leading to the China Route.'
'Ah, One-Child Policy.'
'Yes. However, first child also doesn't mean they're 'the one' as the Crest's Compatibility with a Host is also a factor, so that idea was scrapped within days. Thus clans are required to ensure their kids don't kill each other for succession as the chosen one is the one compatible with the Magic Crest, no arguments, whether you like it or not. But some still wants to rule, hence, heirs put up with trouble until Crowning Ceremony. The extra kids are thus in political marriages that will benefit their clans.'
xxx
The Classroom...
'Er, Juri, why are you bringing that guy with you to class?' Waver twitched as Juri came with Reborn in his arms.
'Due to his own position as they decided he is my tutor to family succession, I decided he's in the know, but his life is in my hands. So if he talks, he dies immediately.' Reborn wasn't quite sure how serious she is with those...because its her in trouble with Unlucky Faculty, if she were to break secrecy laws.
...Professor Velvet shrugged.
'Ah, carry on then, to your seat. We'll begin in three minutes.'
'Oh? Class baby brought in Cursed Baby to class?' Luvia raised an eyebrow. Reborn stiffened in Juri's arms. He was easily identified as cursed by these kids who were ogling him with curiosity!
'Ah, he's older than sensei by 25 years, senpai.' said Juri. 'My uncle who's current head decided I can't be alone any more as last living heir. Others kicked the bucket.'
'Understandable...assassinations keep coming until chosen heir is clan head by maturity in our laws...heck, I survived many until my succession ceremony!'
'But still, a cursed baby tutor? That's interesting!' said Flat, his eyes shining.
'I can whoop your ass even if I'm like this.' said Reborn with a warning tone in his voice with killing intent to match. 'There's a reason I'm her bodyguard and tutor.'
'Eek!'
'Alright, enough horsing around, class!' Waver clapped his hands as he began lessons for the day...
"So this is a magic classroom..." its pretty much more on lore discussions, but made to match 'Modern Magecraft Theory'.
Modern Magecraft Theory isn't so much a discipline as a philosophy. It is an approach to magecraft that, instead of highly specializing in one given field or school of magecraft like most mages have historically, picks and chooses whatever suits one's needs in the preexisting disciplines and only studies them shallowly in order to prioritize versatility and ease of learning.
Unlike traditionalists who stick to one path until the end, Modern Magecraft teaches 'everything' in a way that's easy to understand, hence 'shallowness', but allows for open-minded students to increase their chances at success as a Magus by knowing more than one avenue for themselves. That, and adapting to modern times when things like CCTV Cameras exist, cameras of cell phones and the like that they must take better care in security when practicing. That students of Modern Magecraft will never screw up with Breach of Mystics unlike other departments.
There's a reason its known in Clock Tower that Professor Velvet 'spams out Brands and Prides' for graduate students. Other first-rate Professors can't do that much, that their students can only go as far as Counts, that they are insulted that he, a 'garbage of a Magus' was a far better teacher than them, of ancient lineages! Also more insulting that their former students enrolled in his class to become Brands or Prides. Sadly, they can't enact revenge, lest they bring a Lord's wrath on them all.
Juri grew up 'muggle' to quote Harry Potter, as she DID live in Fuyuki in an apartment by herself, having used electronics and appliances, even having cable TV and air conditioning. Her choice of living in the Freeway was solely her whims alone, which she also found comfortable.
At the end of the day, is P.E Classes that Juri talked about. It was basically training fit for hardcore soldiers and assassins in terms of martial arts, acrobatics, free running and improving their reflexes and reaction time!
With a catch.
They are all using Reinforcement, a technique that reinforces whatever they want, as long as they have knowledge of what they wanted to Reinforce in the first place, making it a difficult spell hardly anyone wanted to use among traditionalists. But with Professor Velvet, it enabled him to run this insane classroom!
It was like seeing a classroom full of Reborns and Fons in a fight to the death. It was that thrilling! And he really can see, that Juri trashes her kidnappers.
By the end of the day...after a Navy Shower...it was time to go home.
So Reborn drove the car home to the hotel, as after breafast, the two bosses left Juri's house.
xxx
'So, how's a day in her school like?' Timoteo asked Reborn as they were in the living area of the Penthouse they rented.
'...the P.E is crazy, that I can believe Juri saying she destroys her kidnappers.' said Reborn wryly. 'Their idea of P.E, can make government Soldier Training a joke.'
'Heee...'
'I can safely teach Juri in her residence.' said Reborn. 'The other things. I'll have to go back to Italy to pack things I'll need for her training at home.'
'Alright...one month left till summer...' Iemitsu shivered in anxious anticipation. 'I've had Lal talk to needed people in Fuyuki regarding Juri, and I got documentation of her medical situation sent to us not long ago so I can show Nana at home...'
'About that...throw her medical papers in the trash.' said Reborn. 'When we get to Japan, Juri will go to someone who can sort her Broken Sky out. She didn't bother to before to keep danger away from them. But that danger is long dead, and that's all I'm allowed to say for their safety.'
That got the bosses relieved.
'Alright.'
'By meeting this person who can restore her Broken Sky, she'll be back to normal.' said Reborn. 'I wish to meet this person myself, but to protect this person, Juri has to see them alone.'
xxx
Summer...
Mifune City...by an isolated roadside meant for countryside travel...
Akasha was there in her host, Ryougi Shiki.
'The Sky accepts everything...apparently, that includes your sad condition.' she told Juri. 'That was because you believed you have nothing and nobody left worth getting fixed for. But now that you met your father again, you decided to finally save yourself, for your parents.'
'...is Angra completely gone?' Juri asked her.
'He is dead long, long ago...the Angra Mainyu you have been with for ten years, is merely a copy of him from the Throne of Heroes. But still, a threat to the world.' said Akasha. 'When Emiya used Rulebreaker on Matou Sakura, his hold on her was effortlessly severed and forced back into the Grail, and Illyasviel von Einzbern closed the Gate for good, sacrificing her Lesser Grail Body to do so as you know. By closing the Gate, the Angra Mainyu you know of, I dealt with after to protect the souls that come back to me when they die.'
'I see...'
'I'm keeping an eye on this Emiya...I poached this Emiya from Alaya. Really, what was that Emiya thinking that he became a bitter Counter Guardian for her...I'm a nicer boss in comparison.' Akasha huffed.
'...well, not everyone knows you take on human form once in a while...'
'True...because sometimes, I need to interfere when Magi overstep themselves. Gaia protects the World. Alaya protects Humanity. And I protect what Magi seek, yet they don't deserve.' said Akasha. 'There can only be five at a time. The chosen five. And you've got one thing wrong, Juri.'
'Eh?' Juri blinked as Akasha appeared in front of her to place her hand gently on her head and Juri felt her heart, soul and spirit change immediately.
'You figured it out, therefore, you are true successor of the Third.' said Akasha. 'Illya can be your heir as you taught her, as you felt its her birthright given her lineage. You are the true Third Magician of this era.'
And Juri found herself back in the Hotel she and her father and Reborn stayed in. In her room no less!
'Even a free trip home...she's really nice.' said Juri softly, but gratefully.
But still, she got her 'heart' back! She's NORMAL now! She can be with her parents after several long years...every summer though! Because she must graduate first!
xxx
Next day, breakfast...
'So you got your 'heart' back from the helper.' said Iemitsu in relief as Juri no longer looked like a dead-eyed robot. 'You're a normal girl again!' he and his wife won't have to worry anymore! She can make friends and live normally after several long years of trauma-induced NOTHING!
'Mm.'
'You really can't say who, huh?'
'Nope. For safety reasons...' that, and she gained the skill from Akasha incase there are Broken Flames like her. 'That person doesn't deserve to deal with self-entitled, arrogant demanding people if that person went public. That person will help, but most mafioso are exactly why I won't tell anyone about my helper.'
'Alright.' Iemitsu let the matter off. Because Juri owed the helper, not the other way around and this person was someone clearly not to be messed with, if Juri who can trash organizations, is respectful. 'I'm just glad you're...you again...but you'll really have to learn how to live in your old hometown, for your time in High School. You'll learn from your mother this summer, alright?'
'Alright.'
'Leave everything to me and Reborn to report that we finally found you.' said Iemitsu. 'For now...all your mother wants is her daughter back and Nono gave me time to have a full family summer.' he said with a grin, patting her head.
'...I have no memory of what happened...all I remember was being in a van, blindfolded...and a sea of flames that was once the streets of Shinto.' said Juri, recalling her past. 'Did anything happen to mother?'
'She was knocked out after taking you to the park.' said Iemitsu. 'She was found unconscious and bleeding to the head by horrified parents who also came to take their kids to play at that same park.' Juri stiffened. '...she was horrified when she's alone and you're nowhere...and CCTV revealed foreigners kidnapping you.' he said darkly. 'We tracked them down but trail went cold in Tokyo...because they have a skilled Mist Flame user.' he said bitterly. 'We failed to get you back home.'
'Ah...my kidnappers knows I'm a Vongola heir which was why I was kidnapped. The words I remember indicated so...there's a traitor.'
'Aa. It was Enrico Fermi di Vongola.' Iemitsu growled. 'I found evidence but I couldn't tell Nono back then because I was not allowed in the Iron Fort by the people there. Even my access to his office was lost!'
'So, thinking that Juri died in his hands...you set up his death after?' Reborn asked him and Iemitsu has a chilling smile.
'A life for a life. My innocent toddler daughter died because of that scumbag. That was what I thought years ago. And I couldn't get justice through Nono. As an angry grieving father, what else can I do?' said Iemitsu coldly, making Juri do a double-take. That her father killed for her. 'Naturally, I had to ask the Vindice for legalities and technicalities to avoid having a room in Vendicare...so I took steps without getting me in hot water.'
'Well, Enrico is my only inner-family kill, no idea who killed Massimo and Federico. The Vindice are keeping an eye on me for years after my revenge to make sure I keep my word. But for threatening me with Juri, I wasn't exactly motivated to bring their killers to justice either.' he scoffed. 'Their arrogance, born of riding on successes of their father and ancestors yet has nothing noteworthy themselves and yet offended people in their wake that their father and I have to clean up their shit...Juri, don't be like them as you are now sole heir.' he told her and Juri nodded. 'There's a reason that despite all of them being as old as me, Nono never let them succeed him and is pressuring them for grandkids. They're worthless as heirs.'
She's a Magus. An unknown in Mafia Politics. She offended a number of people outside Modern Magecraft for simply existing, as she, a magus of unknown lineage, was better than heirs of most traditionalists, and for possessing a pair of Jewel-Ranked Mystic Eyes. She bets that when she decided to let loose, a certain family will fall for her.
Or rather, two families.
'For selling Juri to unknown mafioso to this day whose Identities I still don't know...I sold him to people who he offended big time and set up his death in that restaurant and they're all eager to kill him.' Iemitsu sneered. 'It's only fitting.'
'...'
xxx
Namimori, hours later, at the Police Station...
There was a tearful reunion between mother and daughter.
Well, tears of grief on Nana's part, considering how she lost her daughter, and tears on Juri's part because she actually has a home, after living under a Loco Parentis for many years. She has records living with Kotomine Kirei in Fuyuki after that disaster there so she has some Christian Upbringing, but Juri mentioned she was hardly around him after she learned how to cook.
She would say while her legal guardian was responsible and doing what's proper, his personality...'will drive me to early hypertension for being too much of a troll' and moved out, and living on her own gave her actual peace.
Then she lived under British Sponsorship under an Aristocratic Family under 'daddy long-legs style' as Kotomine arranged should anything happen to him. Juri felt he died for pissing someone off, even if he's a Priest. She would live in Britain until she graduates Junior High, and living in Japan during vacations.
(the truth was far darker though, but she was fine with telling lies)
'Not to sound offensive, but is she really? You don't look alike.' the Precinct's Officer asked Iemitsu. 'And your daughter's really pretty.'
'Well, mixed ethnicities bring about surprising results.' said Iemitsu. 'I'm half-italian, Juri's quarter. Complete with DNA Tests and everything, legit by Intelligence Agencies of England since it wasn't Juri just kidnapped by foreigners, but random kids round' the world, and they're still trying to figure out why.'
Reborn wisely stayed elsewhere. He felt he shouldn't intrude in homecoming to a whole family that was torn a decade ago. But still, he'll map out this town and places surrounding it.
However!
Namimori wasn't THAT far from Fuyuki City where Juri grew up in. Both Fuyuki and Namimori are near the ocean, just a day away drive around Mt. Enzo.
She was near home all this time, and she was annoyed, but hey, she's got amnesia...
