Chapter 2-Those days have come to an end
CLACK. CLACK
Two boys sparred across a grassy hill, wooden swords in hand. They were brothers in all but blood yet exceedingly different, one noble and chivalrous the other crude and cruel.
"Up"
"I know"
CLACK. They had done this time and time before.
"Side"
"Got it"
CLACK. Their father used to join them in this but much to their grief he was growing too slow to keep up with the two.
"Boot"
"Boot?"
THUMP
The older boy kicked the younger straight in the chest and finished with a lunge to have the wooden sword sit at the young boy's(girls) neck. This wasn't how thing usually went but there was something different about the spar today
"Acgh, come on Kay that was dirty and you know it"
Kay laughed and jabbed the sword into the ground before leaning on it.
"The battlefield is no place for fairness Arthur"
"But the code of knights- "
"Most people don't care about knights these days Arthur"
The boy(girl) looked away.
"But… Honor"
Kay flopped to the ground; he didn't want to confront this but when had he ever chosen the easy road.
"You are a good person Art, and it is hard for a good man to be a king"
"What are you saying, brother?"
Kay stared back at Arthur with cold blue eyes.
"You don't have to do this; you don't have to become King"
Arthur stood up with a shout.
"I have to Kay. if I don't become king then who will!?"
"Literally anyone else, there is no shortage of people who want the crown!"
"Merlin says I'm the only one who can bring Britannia together, it's my responsibility, my burden to bear"
Kay slammed his fist into the ground; his fist wreathed in a blue flame burning the grass around his fist.
"Fuck that fucking demon! Don't you get it this will crush you!"
"Kay"
"You can be a great King; Arthur I know you can but it will destroy you. The secrets you'll keep, the lives you spend, the ideals you hold, they will all destroy you"
He(she) looked down.
"Do you have that little faith in me"
His(her) Voice was barely a whisper but Kay shook his head
"You could be the greatest king this land will ever know Arti, I know you could, but it would cost you everything"
For a long, while Arthur didn't respond, he(she) turned to look at the sun now turning to dusk.
"It's my dream, Kay"
He looked towards the distant figure upon that hill bathed in the light of dusk; they didn't seem like a child anymore but rather an old and noble king who has seen the beginning and end, moving on despite it"
"Might for right, the strong protecting the weak, a kind and just world"
He(she) looked towards him and smiled.
"It's stupid, I know. A foolish childish dream that can never truly come true"
His(her) smile grew bitter.
"I know I will not be rewarded, the truths of what I'll do will be forgotten in time and I will likely burn like Lucifer himself before I truly achieve that ideal. And yet-"
He(she) paused for a moment before she spoke once more filled with conviction.
"I'll bear the bear that burden so I can reach that ideal even if it is just a glimpse"
'And if you were to lose sight of it? Would you still-'
Kay stood up patting the dirt off his pants pushing air out his mouth
"Now after a heroic speech like that how can I stand aside and do nothing?"
"Ackg, Kay you ruined the moment!
He laughed and threw the wooden sword at him(her), she caught with a slight jump of surprise.
"Come on we should get back before Ector gives our food to the dogs"
Arthur rushed across the field leaving Kay behind to hoot at his(her) panic.
'Kay, did you see it even then?'
(Line Break)
'Was it milk we needed or apples?'
The two of them had agreed awhile back it was best to go to the grocery store once a week to stock up on things but he really wished they came up with a better system for deciding who goes to the store, stupid dice.
"Neither you're out of mangoes"
He froze and shut his eyes.
'Please don't let that be him, please don't let that be him'
"I'm not a figment of your imagination Mr. Aldain"
He opened his eyes and sure enough 'Einstein was standing beside him with a bag of mangoes in his hand.
"It'll make feel you better when she arrives"
He clenched his teeth and pulled him into a more isolated spot.
"Alright who the hell are you 'Einstein'?"
"I already told- "
"Don't bullshit me, I already know your one of them so you might as well come clean"
"(sigh) Nothing I say about my identity will convince you, truth or not"
His grip was akin to a vice.
"Then why are you here, if everything you do is hopeless then why are you bothering me at all?"
The old(?) man sighed before effortlessly pulling his arm out of his grip, a bit insulting honestly. Harker was never a bodybuilder, but he did work in construction for god's sake.
"Sometimes people just want to help, Harker"
"Bull. Shit."
Harker clenched his fists together.
"Not for their kind"
"You didn't always think that way"
Rage filled his eyes as he did his best to kill him with a glare.
"Though I suppose those experiences changed that"
The old man sounded like he just remembered.
"Why. Are. You. Here"
The old man twirled his cane thinking how to answer seeing as cheer didn't work.
"Since cynicism is all you will respond to, helping you helps me"
"Explain"
"If I told you then it would end with you dead along with everything else"
Harker growled and tried to walk away but Einstein's hand clamped upon his shoulder.
"Let me go old man"
"She's coming today"
"What?"
"I mentioned that earlier if briefly"
He whirled around and shoved a finger at his face.
"Tell me straight if it won't break the oh-so-precious balance of the universe. Who"
He wasn't even slightly disgruntled at the mocking tone of the irate teen.
"Your sister, she's already at your apartment if I'm not forgetting anything"
Harker walked back a bit (Einstein has let go earlier). He ran through several scenarios before-
"The deal…"
"Indeed"
He flexed his fingers and Harker could sense that he put up a bounded field around them.
"What did you-"
"Twisted the sound around us, we need to get moving and it's best they don't know about the other world"
"True but-"
"Don't worry all they hear is us telling stories about DMg so it's nothing that arises suspicion"
He gestured with his hand and began to move down the aisle.
"Don't try weaseling out of this Alva, if you stay here you will die"
The teen looked to the side, scanning the crowd.
"You're certain of that?"
"Yes"
"Assassins?"
"No"
"Apostle?"
"No"
"Magi experiment?"
"No"
"Then how in hell- (sigh)You can't say can you"
"No, I can't"
They walked to the register and Harker began to purchase his food.
"I'm beginning to really despise that excuse"
Einstein gave off a bitter, brief bark of laughter.
"Then you are learning"
They walked out the door in relative silence.
"You have to go Alva if you don't then (sigh)"
The cheerful exuberance shown the day before was gone, replaced by a sense of weariness but Harker had long since lost patience with this man.
"Can you guarantee that I will live if whatever you say happens to be the truth"
"No. And even if you do live you will never be the same"
Harker popped open a can of soda and chugged it down before throwing it in a recycling can.
"I hate you"
"I know, you won't be the first and if all goes well you won't be the last"
The old man seemed to deflate for a moment before revitalizing a bit.
"I promise I'll tell you why in time, but right now is not then"
"One last question"
"I will likely not answer it"
"How. How do you know any of this?"
The old man paused before giving a Cheshire grin.
"Magic. I don't gotta explain shit"
Harker walked back to his truck flipping him the bird.
(Linebreak)
Harker hadn't left the truck; he drove all the way to the apartment but he hadn't gotten out of the truck. He hadn't even unbuckled yet.
'I am not ready for this
"Einstein's" had overall distracted him from truly realizing what this meant, his sister was here. Here. What in hell was he supposed to say he barely said two words to her even when he lived in the old household.
'And now I'm supposed to just go along with this? Who says the old bastard was even telling the truth about death and destruction soon to come?'
He looked to the car charm in the back mirror and slammed the steering wheel with a snarl
'Damn that fat bastard and his stupid morals'
A bit later and he stood before his very own door wary and afraid.
'Here goes nothing'
"That took a lot longer than usual! What kept you so long"
"A bit of traffic don't worry"
His usual cheery grin in place Louis was the first thing to greet him and nothing else, everything is as it-
"You really don't have any tea in here, that's rather disappointing brother"
Fuck.
Louis leaned in close and whispered "You never told me your sister was albino or that she was so pretty"
Objectively she was, silvery eyes, pearl-colored hair, marble skin, he remembered many suitors claiming she was Galatea herself but to the horror of many just like Galatea, she was hollow and cold as stone.
"Sirris, what an... unexpected surprise"
She gave a bright smile to match Louis only darkened by the sheer emptiness behind it.
"I wanted to surprise you little brother it been far too long"
'8 years since you last actively choose to acknowledge my presence without any prompting so yeah far too long for any sort of friendliness'
"Father sent you to collect didn't he"
He moved to the kitchen to drop off the grocery bags before getting a cup and a cutting board.
"Ah proud father the loan shark(snicker), he wouldn't appreciate that you know"
"Mm-hmm. Hey Louis mind putting away the groceries, isn't too much to do"
"Yeah sure"
She sat down in his favorite chair.
"What are you doing brother?"
"Making mangoes"
"Why?"
'It's my favorite food Ass' "Just felt like it"
"All done!"
"Would you be a dear and leave us I need to speak to my brother, alone"
Louis turned to Harker to see him nod. He shrugged and walked to the door
"Plenty of things for a teenager to do on a Saturday, I'll see you later Harker"
"See you later"
As soon as he exited the door the mask fell off his sister's face.
"Father has called you back to Britain, he has a task for you, your last task"
"Figured, what is it?"
"That's not for me to say"
"Any details you can share?"
"It's not dangerous"
"Well that's something I guess"
Not likely to stay that way from what he could tell of "Einstein's" warnings, but he has been right so far.
"One condition before I accept"
"You made a deal Alva, are you willing to disrespect father any further?
"Harker and I respect father more than I do the rest of you"
"You are breaking my cold dead heart brother"
He ignored her.
"I want to make sure this apartment is paid for. Louis can't pay for it on his own"
She raised an eyebrow.
"You will likely not return for a year Alva, your-"
"Harker, H-a-r-k-e-r."
"Fine then "Harker" your "Friend" will move on in that amount of time"
"Funny, did I give a sign that I cared?"
"You would have us pay off an apartment for a teenager mundane who'll move on?"
"It's my one and only condition"
"Why"
"Call it a sense of responsibility if it helps you understand"
She closed her eyes for a moment. Even if she was apathetic to the damn near entirety of humanity, responsibility was ingrained upon her, just as it once been ingrained upon him.
"Fine"
"When do we leave"
"I booked us a private plane at 6:00 today"
"So, seven hours"
"Oh my, look you can do math?!"
"Fuck you"
"How crude"
He sighed, dealing with her even back then was a chore
"Just go and do something in the city, plenty of lonely guys whose hopes you can shatter"
She had an evil smirk on her face as she shut the door leaving Harker alone with his thoughts.
'Seven hours, damn'
He took out his phone and called Louis
"What's up?"
"I'm going to be leaving in a couple of hours"
"What?"
"I... had a deal with my family, this is them calling on it"
"You- How long?"
"A year maybe more. Don't worry I made sure they would pay for the apartment"
"That's not what I'm upset about Harker"
"You'll be fine Louis; you may have to spend all your money on takeout, but you'll be fine"
"And what about you? Will you be fine?"
"I don't know, hopefully, I will but-"
"Murphy decided to screw you over"
"Yeah that's probably the best way to put it"
The two laughed a bit but it felt a bit shallow.
"Louis, you… (sigh) You were a good friend. Probably better than I deserved"
"And you were a better friend than you ever thought. I'll see you when you come back Harker, this isn't goodbye this is just a see you later"
'I really hope so, I really hope so'
"That sounds good, would you mind telling Ms. Carpenter for me? The old bat will probably worry"
"Of course,"
"Well, see you later Louis"
He closed the call and sighed, he bit into one of the mangoes.
'At least these are good'
(linebreak)
The flight was rather uneventful except for the airline attendants bending over backward trying to please Sirris. It was nothing new but the person in question found it amusing in the same way some people found it amusing when a dog decides to slobber all over you, it's adorable but kind of disgusting at the same time. The drive to the manor was a different matter, nothing happened per se but old memories came knocking. A fat boy driving a go-cart, a girl wearing an eyepatch staring at him in confusion. The three of them sitting on a cliff, it was all rather unwelcome considering all that happened
'The past is gone, just wish it were easier to leave it behind'
"We are here Lady Sirris"
"Good"
She turned her head to her brother.
"We should be quick, father will be waiting"
He stepped out of the limo to stare at the old ancient manor that he once called home, all sorts of plants grew along the wall somehow not causing any structural damage, most of the outside manor was hewn from stone. He walked past the ancient runed gates hearing the whispers of spirits around him, he could see them flitting about confused at his presence.
'Nothing's changed, not even that'
Lacquered wood creaked beneath his boots as they walked through the halls, maids with familiar yet foreign faces went about their duties without giving his presence a second thought, he moved out of the way of plants that would consciously move out of his sisters way in one of the many gardens his mother kept, at last, came to a great door his father's study.
"He's waiting for you inside"
He stepped inside and there he was, his father.
"Father"
"I trust you came without much fuss"
He was just as he remembered him, a great bear of a man next to a pile of papers, some old texts from ages past others were messages from other families, all this complemented by a stern cold voice fit for a tyrant. It says something that his father is his favorite member of his family.
"Nothing excessive or obstructional"
"Good, I trust you remember the deal"
"I do"
When he left the moonlit world behind his father accepted, on one condition. He does one task for them within his abilities. For years he wondered what it would be, sneaking into someplace, making sure a business deal goes through, murder, etc. Honestly, there wasn't a lot he was going to be capable of, he was extremely out of practice when it came to magic and his only skill in fighting was pure brawling, easily exploitable by a true fighter.
"What is it that you want me to do father"
The man stood up from his chair and walked to the window that overlooked the grounds.
"In Antarctica, there's a facility created by the Animuspheres, it is their lives greatest work something Marisbury has spent most of his life working towards"
"I don't like where this is going"
"Quiet"
Only once he was sure that his son stopped talking did he continue.
"Whatever it is that you think you are doing there you are wrong"
"You will not sabotage anything, you will not steal anything, you will not kill anything, and you will not be in any danger"
"Then what will I be doing"
"You will join them"
"What?"
"Did I stutter"
"No, but- How? Why?"
He walked to his desk and pulled out a form, a recruitment form with his name on it.
"Animusphere has set up an organization dedicated to protecting humanity, you are uniquely suited for the process that they do so"
"Even if I'm capable of doing something doesn't mean I'll be good at it!"
"Do not raise your voice at me boy!"
He clenched his teeth and looked away.
"I'm sorry father"
"You should not worry either way at most you'll do maintenance and hang in reserve, the main people who shall be working are already chosen the rest are just in case or in other words forced upon them by the UN"
"Then why will I be there?"
"You are there to be an insult nothing more"
Charming.
"A failed shaman who hates using magecraft in general in the place where most families want their heirs so they can prove themselves and gain alliances"
He took the form as his father went back into his chair.
"I see not all my lessons have gone to waste"
"I still have questions"
Another paper appeared on the pile his father grabbed and grit his teeth in irritation.
"You get two, another nonsensical demand has arrived"
"Why do you hate the Animuspheres?"
The man raised a brow.
"What makes you think I hate them"
"Besides your tone, the fact that me being sent will be an insult to the facility itself, they are probably expecting a shaman not a slightly perturbed teen"
He gave a harrumph of amusement before speaking
"My spies have shown their attempts at designer babies, the spirits are… offended"
"Never thought they would care about gene manipulation"
"If only, they are summoning spirits into the flesh of newborn babies. The process is agonizing to both beings"
Disturbing though it is comforting to know his father was moved by some sort of suffering even if it by shamanistic contracts.
"You have one more"
"What is its name, the organization"
"They took the name of an ancient group of stargazers, Chaldea"
(Linebreak)
'I leave tomorrow for who knows how long, could've been worse all things considered'
He was in one of the guest rooms, apparently, they couldn't have been bothered to keep his old one he wondered which one it was his father and his pragmatism or his sister in her disdain, mother probably didn't care either way.
"Do you hate them"
He didn't turn his head.
"How did you get in Albert; we have a ton of magical defenses they should have at least sensed you"
"They are no defense against a true master!"
"You're not going to tell me"
"Nope"
He massaged his temples and turned his head to the old man.
"Why are you here Albert?"
"Your struggle will begin soon so I thought it would be best to check on you"
"Something goes wrong with the already accepted candidates doesn't it"
"Very, but it's best not to focus on that right now"
"Got anything else to fill my head with then?"
"Yes, my previous question do you hate them, your family?"
"What relevance does that have?"
"For me? Nothing, for you? A lot, you'll be facing magic very, very soon and who knows if you'll ever get a chance to confront them again?"
Harker relaxed on the bed and thought back to prior days in this house. Did he hate them?
"No, I don't"
"And why is that?"
He growled, he didn't like talking about his family in the best of times and this certainly wasn't one of those times.
"What are you my therapist!"
"Just humor me"
"Why should I!?"
"Because it's best you deal with this before you leave, you don't have to talk with them, but you have to acknowledge their existence and how it affects you"
"I've always faced reality"
"You used to, but until recently you ignored most of it"
He jumped into a sitting position and glared at him.
"All I did was leave it behind and move on I don- "
"Then why do you still think about it. Why don't you hate them these people from a world in which you do hate?"
The anger faded away and he looked away, he breathed deep and answered.
"Respect for their choices, respect for who they are"
"Uncompromising in his ideals and duties"
He remembered his father picking him off the ground after he fell "Fall as much you like just make sure you get up"
"Knowledge and acceptance of self"
His sister dancing between the attacks with a wide grin as the two mages who attacked her face their end in the form of the spirits she loved above humanity "It's okay to be you so long as you do not regret"
"Something they seek, something they move towards with all their being" That stupid dream of that other side.
He sighed as he held his head in his hands, yet he felt… lighter.
"Satisfied?"
"Yes, that'll do for now"
"Einstein" stood up and put a hand on Harker's shoulder.
"You should get some rest; you'll need it soon enough"
"Probably would've helped if I didn't have to go through a whole psychoanalysis"
"Einstein" looked into his eyes with a piercing clarity.
"You need to revisit old questions Harker"
"Like what"
His voice was soft and tired.
"Who you are and how far are you willing to go, those will keep you alive when the time comes"
He turned to go, how he planned to get out Harker didn't know but somehow, he did know that they weren't going to be able to catch him or notice him at all.
"Have a good night Harker, may you see this to its end"
And that's a wrap for this chapter. This should act as a set up for later introspective moments next chapter will be focused on the beginning of Fate Grand Order, I will try to finish the next chapter within a week, thanks for reading