The double-doors to the library mirror my reflection under the dim streetlight. I'm taken aback, for a brief moment, when I see the dull image. What I see being shown in the glass-paneled door is unfamiliar- it is not me. I hesitantly approach the alien figure trapped in the translucent sheet.
After walking up the steps to meet the reflection, I can't help but let a sigh of relief. I see the face of Shirou Emiya staring back at me, with tired eyes. It's just my reflection, same as always… I must still be half asleep.
Despite knowing the outcome, I tug on the library door to find it not budging. It's late. The library closed hours ago. I glance around my surroundings before finding an alley leading to the library's back receiving. Without hesitating, I hop over to the alley entrance and duck in.
I'm, again, dismayed to see that the backdoor and the overhead garage door are both locked tight. I could just break either of the locks, but I'd rather not leave any indication I was here tonight. Not to mention alarms… Maybe I should just come back in the morning? Despite my train of thought, my hand has already pulled the, now very familiar, arrow from my pocket.
"Yeah, right…" I mutter while lifting the arrow up before me, "I told myself when I left the house. I will wait no longer."
The arrow answers my words and rattles in my grip before exploding with crimson veins of electric power. It rises from my hand and rotates on an invisible axel before pointing up to the library roof. Immediately, I lunge up from the concrete alley and grapple on to the overhead fire escape. I make sure to only climb with my left hand, as the arrow remains floating in my right's palm.
The rooftop is barren. Aside from a few ventilation exhausts and a hatch leading into the library, there is nothing up here. Interestingly, the arrow points not at the hatch entrance, but to the vent shafts. I walk the roof and give the hatch a nudge as I pass it, only to find it locked too, before arriving at the vents. I pry the grate from one of the vents as the arrow's glow subsides. Once the vent is open and the arrow returns to its inanimate form, I offer it a silent 'thank you' before crawling in.
I fall into a crouching stance next to the unlodged AC grill. The library is, unsurprisingly, dark and eerily quiet. I must fight the urge to brush the dust and residue I acquired from traversing the duct off of me as I rise to my feet. How am I going to go about finding the texts I need? I wonder this as I begin taking my first steps into the dark library.
I carefully step throughout the labyrinth of towering bookcases while debating on if I should turn the lights on. I know that, from all my years studying here, this old library doesn't have any cameras. So, I don't have to worry about them seeing the lights suddenly flick on. However, there's always the possibility a night owl could walk by and see it lit up in here.
I eventually decide to just play it safe and rely on the arrow once more. I lift it up as it violently comes to life in an identical fashion to earlier in the alley. I find it a little bit harder to pinpoint a specific book from all the clustered bookcases, but soon I find what I need.
"A book on dragon mythos…" I whisper under my breath as I pull it from the shelf.
The book is impressively large, almost as big as an encyclopedia volume. I find myself surprised the library would have such an extensive text on fictional creatures. Though, I suppose it's safe to assume the "fictional" part is up in the air as of now.
Before cracking into the book and beginning to read, I run around and collect a few more that may be of help. Folklore of Fuyuki, Introductory to the Occult, Repertoire of Cursed Objects, Dragons: Fact-Fiction-Fable, Deities and Demons of Japan, and a few others. I find a window at the front of the library with a streetlamp just in front of it, providing enough illumination to read. Despite having to strain my eyes, I resign myself to my fate and begin speed reading through the first book.
I rub my temple in annoyance as I drop yet another book onto the pile of useless texts. Great, all of them have been a bust so far. I have found nothing to hint at the dragon carcass from back then. If anything, the books have done more to confuse than to help. From what I have learned, the draconic skeleton matched the description of those seen and written about in western mythology. If that's the case, why in the world would it be in the bottom of A DAMN JAPANESE RIVER?!
I begrudgingly lift up the final book out of the bunch I collected. "Folklore of Fuyuki: An Extensive Collection of Our History and Traditions". I'm not even sure why I decided to grab this one; I doubt it will be of much help. Regardless, I open the cover and begin to flip through the pages.
I start to lose hope again as I near the end of the book without finding anything of note. Dammit! On top of this one being useless too, it'll be daylight soon. I need to pack up and head out before the librarian gets here to unlock and open up. I flip the page a final time while deciding, after these two pages, I must head out. As I scan through the last few paragraphs on the aforementioned second page, something very interesting captures my attention.
"The 'Ryuujin Matsuri'?" I quietly speak the title of the festival being detailed in this paragraph.
I believe I've heard of this before… It's an old festival that's been celebrated for generations in Fuyuki. As far as I'm aware though, the festival doesn't garner much attention nowadays. Only old folks and the monks up at Ryuudou Temple celebrate it anymore. Regardless, I continue reading all the information about it.
"…Also known as the 'Dragon God Festival'-" I pause halfway through the sentence, upon uttering the mentioning of a dragon, "…it commemorates an old tale about a monk who pacified the dragon god of the Miongawa!"
Once again, I have to pause halfway through my reading. I clutch my head as my vision reddens and the memories vividly burst back in my mind. A dragon god of the Miongawa River? There's no chance this could be a coincidence- it fits just too perfectly.
"Ultimately, the monk managed to convert the dragon to his religion. The oldest tales state that, perhaps, a deal was brokered between the two." A deal? I take note of the sudden mentioning of a deal, with no elaboration, before finishing the text. "The duo later joined the Ryuudou Temple, and the monk would go on to share his wisdom and religious insight. Meanwhile, the dragon would gift them with his martial prowess and teach them judo."
I shut the book after seeing there's nothing more of use to me after that one excerpt. The Ryuujin Matsuri… Despite it having always been a purely fictitious myth, even to those who celebrate it, I must now accept it as fact. Perhaps I can go to the temple later and consult Issei. Maybe he can give me more insight about it.
Feeling the subtle warmth against my neck facing the window, accompanied by a growing illumination being cast into the library, I can tell the sun has begun rising. Quickly, I gather up the books and start returning them to their spots on the shelf.
Once I slide the final book into its vacant slot, I turn on my heel and begin navigating to the air duct I entered from. If I remember correctly, the keyholder for this library gets here really early to start opening. I need to book it out of here before they show up. As I finish this thought, and turn out of the book aisle to arrive at the dislodged AC grill on the floor, I feel a rustling in my pocket.
"What the-" I mumble while fishing the arrow out.
Once I unsheathe and have it within my grasp, it turns to point at a bookshelf behind me, where I just came from. I skew my brow in confusion while shaking my head.
"No, no." I grumble at it in annoyance while taking another step toward the duct exit. "I already read all of them. Besides, I don't have time to start another. The librarian could get here any minute, we need to split."
As I reach down to collect the grill cover with my free hand, I'm shocked to feel a sudden, powerful tugging against my right hand, holding the arrow. I look to it just in time to see the arrow jettison from my grip and fly across the room before stabbing into the bookcase it was beckoning me to.
"What the hell are you doing?!" I shout while running after the suddenly stubborn object.
I thought, after all those dreams, I had a pretty good sense of how to use that thing. I continue wondering why it's acting so spastic as I arrive to its resting place. Isn't it only supposed to point at what I want?
"You're supposed to lead me to what I desire most, right?" I ask the arrow while wrapping my hand around it. "Well, what I desire the most right now is to get the hell out of here. So, let's go!"
Before yanking it from the side of the book it lodged itself in, I decide to take note of the title, at least. I feel my eyes widen slightly as I quietly read the words embroidered on the spine. The Legend… of Hercules? As I finish reading the title, and begin pulling the book from the shelf with the arrow still embedded, I discern a lingering feeling. A desire I've been having for a few days now, even in my comatose dreams.
"I want…" I begin, hesitating as I feel my choice of words isn't quite precise, "I will defeat Berserker. I will kill Hercules… That's what I wanted to say- what I wanted to promise myself, right?"
I direct the last question at the old arrow, knowing full-well it won't respond. Regardless, it helped remind me of what my next step is. In safeguarding Irisviel, in granting her wish, in bringing this war to a close, and in pursuing the destiny of myself and this arrow- I need to fell the dozen-lived behemoth.
My hair stands on end and my head whips around as I hear a faint noise from out in front of the library. Footsteps? The librarian is here already! I waste no more time on my gallant decree before backpedaling to the AC duct.
I swiftly pick up the grill to the duct opening while holding the book and arrow combo under my other arm. Just as I hear the lock to the front door tumbling open, I lunge up from the floor and slide into the shaft. After snapping the grill back into place on the opening, I begin deftly crawling through the ventilation tunnel to return atop the roof.
Once the ventilation grate is back in place and I stand on the solid footing of the rooftop, I unleash a deep sigh of relief. I give my limbs a good stretch before finally ridding my clothes of all the dust they collected from my venture. I suppose I should consider this outing a success. I think to myself while staring down at the book on Greek mythology I pilfered.
"Hercules…" I mutter while walking to the edge of the roof.
I wasn't planning on actually nabbing a book from the place. The garbage can rattles and a couple of feline strays hiss and run off as I slam down onto my feet within the alleyway. But, I suppose it will be a big help for what's to come. I'll just bring it back later once everything has settled down. Deciding this, I hide the book beneath my coat and jog out of the alleyway.
The street in front of the library is barren, and the lamps have begun shutting off to prepare for a new day. An elderly couple walks the sidewalk across the street, appearing to be navigating to the train station.
Once our eyes meet, the old man smiles and offers a quick wave. I mirror the smile before turning on my heel. With a sharp inhale and a slight bow, I rush onwards on the street leading home. The old man's eyes widen, and his smile vanishes as he blurs past me.
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"*yaaaawn*…"
My eyelids lazily open up as I tentatively stretch my arms above my pillow-resting head.
"Nn, good morning Shirou." I mumble while reaching to wrap my arms around him for a hug.
Instead of embracing his warm body, my fingers claw and pat against a cold futon. An empty, cold futon. My eyes snap open. Shirou is nowhere to be seen in the bundle of covers- or anywhere else in the room.
"Huh?! Saber, Saber!" I shout at Saber's curled up, sleeping figure. "Wake up! Where's Shirou?!"
Saber wakes up much quicker than me and darts up into a sitting position. Her eyes briefly flash in surprise before hardening.
"H-How did I not sense him getting up?" she quietly asks herself. "Irisviel, I will quickly check the premises. He's probably just somewhere within the house."
I nod and rise to my own feet as she hurries out of the room. My mind immediately begins wandering to assume the worst while I stare at the empty futon. Could a servant have gotten ahold of him? It wouldn't be the first time- Rider has lured him away successfully before. I decide it'd probably be best to shake off my concern and leave the room.
Before I can even take my first step, I hear rapid running in the hall outside. Shortly after, a frazzled Rin bursts into the room- her hair a frizzy mess and her cat pajamas wrinkled and disheveled. Her tired eyes drop to see the empty futon before widening.
"So, it's true?!" Rin gasps in shock. "Saber relayed his disappearance to me as she ran past my room. Dammit, where the hell did he go?"
I shake my head in sympathy with her confusion. I join her at the door before flicking the room's light on. Maybe there's a clue he left behind to hint at where he went? As my eyes dart around to analyze the room, I take note on the obvious absence of his arrow.
"It seems like, wherever he went, it wasn't against his will or at the behest of an enemy servant. He made sure to grab his weapon before leaving."
"That's exactly right." A distorted, masculine voice responds.
Rin and I both jump when we hear the unaccounted voice suddenly answer me. Just as I recognize the voice, Archer materializes from his hazy spirit form in the doorway behind Rin. Rin quietly growls and spins around to face him with a scowl.
"Archer! What do you know?!" He skews a brow at her question and sighs.
"Precisely what I just said. Shirou Emiya left the property late last night. Just as Irisviel surmised, he was armed with his tacky arrow and a coat for the chilly night."
"Dammit Archer!" Rin shouts at the servant.
"W-Why didn't you follow him?" I worriedly ask him.
"OR SAY SOMETHING SOONER?!" Rin immediately follows up.
"Well, I might've considered following after him. However, he sped off like a bat out of hell before I could decide if I should accompany him. As for why I didn't inform you all sooner… heh, I figured you all deserved some much-needed beauty sleep."
"Ugh!" Rin grunts in annoyance while swiping at Archer's face with her fist. He intercepts it with his open palm, looking slightly frightened.
I rush past the quarreling duo with a panicked start. No, no. I need to find him. I can't let himself get hurt again. I can't. I can't. I can't- I can't! While scrambling to the door, I hear the other two enter the hall and begin hurrying after me.
"Irisviel, wait!" Rin calls after me. "What are you planning to do?"
As I reach the door and clutch the handle, I'm surprised to realize I'm subconsciously praying. I'm not sure to what, but somebody- anybody or anything, please don't take my Shirou from me! I sling the door open.
It takes a moment for my eyes to adjust to the harsh morning light pouring into the house. I see, illuminated in the golden light from the rising sun, two figures. Saber stands, talking to…
"Shirou…" I call to him quietly, in almost a whisper.
He pulls his attention away from Saber to meet my eyes. He's slightly out of breath, completely shirtless beneath his coat, dappled in sweat, and suffering from an abhorrent case of bedhead. However, I find his brown irises prove to be the same as always while he locks me into his gaze. Despite it all, he's still Shirou. My fears were for naught. He's still alive, as though nothing was ever amiss, standing here before me.
Then, he takes a step towards me while flashing a reassuring grin. That smile… The smile I worried I might never see again. The one I've only been deprived of for two mornings, yet it felt like agonizingly long years.
My lip quivers. There's so much I want to ask him. Where has he been? When did he wake up? Why did he leave? Does he feel alright? Does he remember what happened? Does he need something to eat or drink? Why does he feel the need to terrify me like that? However, I say to him the thing my heart wishes to speak the most.
"Welcome back, Shirou!"
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My reunion with Saber is cut short before I can even greet her upon returning. I hear the front door swing open, accompanied by a slight gasp. Following shortly after, I hear a very familiar voice quietly call out my name.
"Shirou…"
I pull my attention away from Saber to meet her gaze. Irisviel stands in the doorway, looking like she's seen a ghost. I feel a pang strike my heart, amplifying the guilt I've been dreading over not notifying her before I left. I notice Tohsaka and Archer soon arrive at the doorway, behind Irisviel. I was hoping I'd return before they all woke up…
I can't help but notice the pale complexion in her skin, the tired bags under her eyes, the dampening of tears threatening to escape, and her messy, tousled hair that appears to have been neglected of care for days. However, I find her beautiful crimson eyes prove to be the same as always while she locks me into her gaze. Despite it all, she's still Irisviel. My efforts weren't for naught. I may have almost died and worried her sick in the process, but I managed to reach an ending where she's still alive, standing here before me.
I can't contain myself any longer and move forward, feeling a smile possess my face. I'm sure she will yell at me. I'm sure she will cry and chastise me for running off as soon as I woke up. However, I want to be selfish for just one moment. I'll listen to her lay into me and tear me a new one all she wants later, but right now, I just want to wrap her in a hug. I want to embrace her and prove one more time this truly is all real. However, my approach comes to a halt when she says something entirely contrary to my expectations.
"Welcome back, Shirou!" Irisviel happily exclaims, with a smile bright enough to give mine a run for its money.
I feel like an electric shock courses through my body when she greets me. A tear of my own attempts to escape my eye, but I muster my willpower and force myself to hold it back. Deciding this outcome trumps a mere hug, I nod and give her the only suitable response.
"Yeah… I'm home, Irisviel."
Saber and Tohsaka chatter vibrantly where they sit across the table. They'll occasionally pause to eat a couple bites of the quick breakfast I whipped up, Saber moreso than Tohsaka, but they remain mostly engaged in discussing our next move.
"Now that- mm- Shirou is awake *gulp*, we need to follow up on all the intel he gathered on the Rider servant. With an identified master and servant, there's no sense in not taking advantage of the opportunity!" Saber exclaims all of this before forking a few pieces of bacon and munching into them.
"My apologies, but I must disagree." Tohsaka shoots her suggestion down. "Because of Shirou being set out of commission, we've lost another two days to the Caster and their devices. As if the Caster hadn't already gathered enough power, they now have two more days' worth of siphoned energy. We must act before it's too late." Tohsaka punctuates her insistence by grabbing a slice of toast and taking a bite out of the crispy bread.
Saber and Tohsaka continue butting heads as Archer suddenly materializes. He takes a seat at the corner of the table, next to Tohsaka. After watching them argue for a few moments he sighs and grabs a teacup to pour himself some of the green tea I brewed. Even the resident stick in the mud is making an appearance for breakfast… heh, it sure is noisy this morning.
"Mm…" Irisviel stirs in her sleep as the noisy trio carry on.
She sits next to me, her body digging into mine. Her arms have my left one entrapped in a vice-like grip and her head rests on my shoulder. No sooner than I sat at the table and she grappled onto me, she fell asleep. Geez… Just for today, I'll allow her to be clingy.
"Shirou!" Saber snaps at me.
I quickly focus my attention on her, blushing slightly at being caught thinking about Irisviel snoozing. She stares at me with a critical gaze and her fork pointing at me.
"What are your thoughts on the matter?"
"What matter? On whom we should target next?"
Saber and Tohsaka both nod.
"Uh, I'm not sure. Whichever Irisviel thinks." Tohsaka groans at my answer.
"So, essentially, to target Berserker and his master again?" I nod at her question.
"If that's what Irisviel decides, then yes. Honestly, I myself think that to be the highest priority as well. I urge both of you not to forget what Illyasviel said during the fight."
They both seem confused at my words. After capturing their attention, I continue.
"She revealed the identity of the Berserker in that fight. He's the prolific demigod from Greek mythology, Hercules. More importantly, she dropped a huge revelation about his power."
Saber's eyes light up in realization.
"That's right…" she agrees after seeing what I'm getting at.
After seeing Tohsaka and Archer are still lost on my point, I continue.
"Illyasviel told us that, after he finished the famous 12 labors, Hercules was granted 12 lives. We know she isn't bluffing, too. After Saber cleaved the monster with her Noble Phantasm, he got right back up and kept swinging as if he was unphased."
Tohsaka seems fairly unnerved after hearing me recount the mechanisms of his ability. Archer also sports a concerned expression.
"That is terrifying to hear." Tohsaka agrees. "However, what exactly are you proposing, Emiya?"
"My point is, I'm not sure how many lives Saber shaved off, but I'm sure it was substantial. We need to treat this like the war that it is and strike our enemy while they're down."
Tohsaka retains her unconvinced expression.
"I'm not exactly sure him having less lives translates to him being weaker…"
"I must agree with her on that point, Shirou." Saber agrees. "And now that he's seen my Noble Phantasm, chances are he won't allow himself to fall prey to it again. Less lives he may indeed have, but he will be an even more prepared and deadly opponent when we next fight. The same applies to Illyasviel, surely."
I shake my head and press my finger down onto the table aggressively.
"No, no. You're both missing the obvious. I'm not saying his loss of lives makes him physically weaker; I'm saying we need to deplete the sparse remaining ones while they remain at that number."
I can tell they're both still lost. However, surprisingly, Archer's eyes widen in shock and his mouth opens slightly in realization.
"Wait, he's right!" he agrees with me in frustration. "Of course, how could I have been so blind? We can't just assume to know the full extent of how his twelve lives function."
"Can one of you please just come out and say it?!" Tohsaka irritably begs while slapping her hand on the table.
"Think of it this way," I begin, "you guys essentially brought me back from the dead with your magecraft. If you could restore my life with your magecraft, who's to say his bank of lives can't be replenished as well?"
In unison, Saber and Tohsaka's eyes flash in shock as they finally catch up on what Archer and I have come to think.
"You mean-"
"That's right. Since we don't know the full extent of how this ability works, we have to keep our minds open to all possibilities. His master, Illyasviel, may have the power to return his lives with magecraft or some other tool at her disposal. Hell, they may even restore simply if enough time has passed."
"Ha!" Archer suddenly spits a brief chuckle out. "I didn't think you were so sharp, Shirou Emiya. You've obviously put some good thought into this."
Archer turns his attention to Tohsaka before continuing.
"I apologize, my master. I've been teetering on which servant we should defeat for a while now, but after he's made this point, I must plant my feet firmly in their corner. The thought of facing that monster with just a few lives is terrifying. I dread to think of trying to defeat him if he returns to all twelve."
Tohsaka, surprisingly, nods in agreement.
"I'm in the same boat as you, Archer. I would say it may be worth considering pitting Caster against Berserker, as their power may be the only thing capable of felling him at this point now. However, it's quite likely Illyasviel will remain in hiding until Hercules' lives are returned, assuming she is capable of doing such… In fact, I thought it was sort of strange she never tried to launch a follow-up attack on us while we were bunkered down here these past two days. After how she threw us into disarray, I was constantly worrying she'd be here one night to finish the job."
"However," Saber continues for her, "if Berserker truly is in a compromised state, it'd be risky. Shirou's theory gains even more merit, considering."
They all begin pondering after their joint deduction. Seeing the unified silence, I decide to drive the final nail.
"So, are we all in agreement?"
The three of them nod.
"As much as I hate the idea of leaving Caster to her devices," Tohsaka begins while looking conflicted, "I can't deny that the issue of Berserker is the more pressing matter. As such, I'd like to deal with him as quickly and efficiently as possible. Since you spearheaded this decision Mr. Smartypants, I hope you have a good plan on how we'll do so."
"Leave it to me." I confidently assure all three of them.
"*yawn*, mm, what's with all the noise…?" Irisviel asks while scrunching up her face.
She lifts her head from my shoulder and looks around to see the serious expressions of everyone gathered.
"We've just decided how we'll proceed in the Grail War." Saber informs her.
"Oh?" Irisviel asks, sounding a little embarrassed. "I-I'm sorry. I should've been awake for such an important discussion. What conclusion did you guys reach?"
"We decided to join in your original decision." Tohsaka answers. "We need to confront Illyasviel and her Berserker. We have to defeat Hercules."
I become alert when I feel Irisviel's grip on my arm tighten. I notice her expression looks fearful, and she seems upset by what Tohsaka just informed her of.
"You all want to face them again…? After what happened?"
Hesitantly, the three at the table all nod in response. After seeing their answers, she turns to face me. She looks so scared… It's because of me. Because of the state I ended up in after the fight.
"Shirou… what about you?"
"I want to follow through with whatever it is you want to do. You had something you needed to tell Illyasviel, did you not? Then, let's get rid of the big bastard between us and her so you can."
"B-But Shirou, what happened last time… What if-"
"What happened to me that night won't ever occur again. Not from Berserker. You don't need to worry."
"How can you be so sure?"
"I just am."
"But you don't know that."
"Irisviel, I promise you!"
"U-Uh guys?" I hear Archer hastily interject.
I look at him from the corner of my eyes to find him and the other two looking a bit flustered. Hm? After noticing their expressions, I become more aware of my surroundings and realize the position I'm in.
My face is not even an inch away from Irisviel's own. Our foreheads are butted against each other and my eyes are locked with Irisviel's stubborn, defiant gaze. The two noses are just a hair away from squishing into one another. I quickly pull away from Irisviel's face and clear my throat, feeling a blush burn across my cheeks.
"A-Anyways, that's just how it is. I'll still agree with whatever it is you decide, but don't let your concern over my wellbeing stop you from pursuing Berserker and that girl."
Irisviel still seems hesitant on agreeing with the plan. However, after a few moments in silence, she finally concedes and nods her head.
"Very well… If everyone, including you, are that sure about it, then I will happily accept everyone's support."
I can't help but smile at her courage. Before I can voice said happiness, Tohsaka quickly interjects.
"Good to hear, Irisviel. On that note, I have a request for you."
"A request?" Irisviel parrots back.
"Yeah. Like I said, I want to deal with this Berserker situation as quickly as possible. He may be more dangerous than Caster, but not by much. So, that being said, I will be making a short trip to my house today to gather some necessary tools for the coming fight with him. I'd like you to accompany me."
"Me? Why?"
"In so few words, I think you could also benefit from some of the aid I have to offer. I'm not doubting your competency as a mage, but anything that can improve our chances of victory against them will be a great boon."
Irisviel looks hesitant at the suggestion, but after I nod in affirmation with Tohsaka's suggestion, she agrees.
"Alright, Rin. I'll take you up on your offer."
Irisviel slips her shoes on while Tohsaka and Archer bicker just outside the front door. After breakfast, they all scrambled to get ready for the excursion to Tohsaka's house.
I hear energetic footsteps and make way for Saber to skip past and exit to join the two outside. She wears a set of clothes I've yet to see: a blue coat with fluffy, white faux fur lining the collar and cuffs and a pair of faded jeans. I guess Tohsaka gave her a bigger upgrade to her wardrobe than I thought… Once Irisviel has her shoes and coat on as well, she rises to her feet and give me a concerned look.
"Shirou, you're not going to run off again, are you?"
"I was actually planning to go see Issei at some point today…"
Irisviel's face quickly grows concerned after I tell her this. She looks between me and the group of three outside several times before responding.
"Why don't you take Saber with you? Just in case anything happens. Between me, Rin, and Archer we will have plenty of protection on our end, so-"
"Irisviel." I cut her off while placing a hand on her shoulder. "I'll be fine. I'm not going to leave you again. Hurry up and go with them. Let's both finish our business quickly so we can meet back here together as soon as possible."
My words cause the worried expression to dissipate. She soon dons a smile and closes in for a quick hug. I return it and jump a little when she leans up to whisper in my ear.
"Thank you. See you soon."
Soon, the four of them are gone. I'm left alone with nothing more than the quiet house and my own thoughts. It doesn't take me long to decide I might as well go see Issei now.
I change into a fresh set of clothes and change the roll of gauze around my head. To my surprise, once the cloth wrapping is off my head, I find the gash to be healed over. A pinkish scar remains as the sole memory of the wound.
I spend a moment looking in the bathroom mirror to analyze the mark. It stretches across the corner of my forehead and down the edge of my left eyebrow, separating a small section from the rest of the brow. A pretty stark contrast to how bad I initially thought the cut was after that fall from the tree. Still, it's a bit more noticeable than I'd hoped.
"Hm, I wonder why this one left a scar after they healed it. The ones on my stomach and ribcage were way worse, but there's no indicator such wounds ever even occurred." I ponder on the reason while lifting my shirt to confirm the absence of any scarring on my abdomen.
I make sure to lock the door once I leave, and soon I'm off on my trek to Ryuudou Temple. While rushing through the city to navigate there, I grab the book tucked in the back of my belt. Might as well use my time as efficiently as possible…
The whole time I read the book, the Legend of Hercules, I have an alien feeling possessing me. The closest thing I could compare the experience to is a weird form of nostalgia, or a strong sense of déjà vu. No, even that isn't precise enough… I seem to be able to easily visualize each of the tales being told.
Hercules slaying the serpents as an infant, choosing a life of tribulation and glory, his servitude to King Eurystheus, and even the iconic twelve labors. In all these scenarios, I can see the image of that moment, clear as day.
How strange. This is the first time I've read the account of his legend. I wouldn't have expected to get such an intimate understanding of it on my first perusal.
Before I know it, I've ascended the lengthy stairs and stand before the gate leading to Ryuudou Temple. I reluctantly shut the book, fighting the urge to recount even more of his stories. As I step through the large gate, I'm surprised to spot Issei entering the front door of the temple. He quickly follows someone in before shutting the door behind him.
I waste no time in catching up with him, and jog across the temple yard. The monks outside smile and bow to me, while the sparse visitors offer a brief greeting and a wave. I return all the pleasantries without pausing my advance towards the door.
I reach the door, and open it so I might enter.
I walk out of the doorway, onto the wooden flooring, to have a gale of salty wind blow past me and into the room whence I came. The trilling of the seagulls overhead pierces through the soft splashing of the rolling sea beneath our vessel. I tread across the undulating deck to arrive at the bulwark of the ship.
The vast ocean is laid across before me. It appears to glow, valiantly, a golden hue beneath the setting sun. A beaming grin possesses my face. I can't help but feel immeasurable excitement at the adventure before us. I know the tales of our heroics to come would be sung in halls and homes for years after this voyage.
And yet… that wasn't what I thought of that day. Not of my heroics, my glory, my accumulating legend. No, back then I could only revel in one feeling. It was… fun. The adventure with my comrades, the meals we shared, the hardships we weathered, and the victories we relished in together. For that fleeting period, it truly was a golden journey.
"Oi!" a voice barks at me from the helm of the ship. "Heracles! Get up here you big oaf!"
I turn to see the man beckoning me. A young guy with hair just as golden as the fleece he gathered us to find, he is waving me up from behind the ship's wheel. A maiden with violet hair stands next to him, starry-eyed and smiling brightly. Them and all the rest of our nautical crew stand gathered at the helm, tankards of ale in either hand.
"The ocean's not going anywhere anytime soon." He continues, while raising a mug towards me. "Come over here so we can get this toast over with! Then, we'll be officially christened as the Argonauts and our epic cruise can finally set way!"
The smile plastered across my face does not falter. In fact, it broadens even further at his passionate declaration. I pull my attention away from that ever-magnificent ocean, and I step towards that journey.
"EUGHHHHHR!" I shriek through clenched teeth while jolting up from the spot I lie.
I hear scattered gasps throughout the room as the men step back from my suddenly animated body. My hands jitter and tense at every noise, wanting to lash out at anything close. I have to force my grips to remain clutching the sheet when I feel a hand suddenly rest on my shoulder.
"Emiya, Emiya!" a familiar voice urges me. "Hey, are you alright?! Snap out of it!"
I turn to see Issei is the one who grabbed me by the shoulder. Seeing that he is the one trying to console me, I feel the tension in my body ease and my rapid breathing slows. The handful of monks gathered in the room seem to finally lower their guard after my outburst.
"I-I-I…" I stutter, trying to summon the words for a cohesive sentence.
"Could someone bring him water?" Issei asks the monks. "Please, give us some space too."
The monks wordlessly file out of the room. The final one to leave offers Issei and I a quick bow before shutting the door behind him. I stand from the floor while tentatively rubbing my temple.
"You shouldn't get up immediately." I hear Issei scold me with an exasperated tone.
"What happened to me? How did I end up passed out on the floor?"
"I was hoping you would have the answer to that question." Issei reflects with a skewed brow. "You walked into the temple door and then faceplanted. Almost instantaneously. I went and got some of the monks to help me carry you to this room so you could rest. We had basically just lied you down when you suddenly came back to life and started screaming."
I shake my head and affix my gaze to the floor. That dream… why in the world did that happen? I fearfully trace my tongue across my upper lip. I can almost taste the salt from the ocean breeze I felt.
"Thank goodness Mr. Kuzuki's fiancé was at the door when you fell." Issei suddenly comments as I'm trying to come to terms with the situation.
"Mr. Kuzuki's fiancé?" He nods at my question.
"Yeah, she just so happened to be at the door with me when you entered. I was trying to discuss the terms of her and sensei's marriage when you suddenly popped up in front of us. It was totally unexpected. It seemed like you took one look at her before flatlining. However, she managed to catch you as you were falling… Well, maybe it's more accurate to say she cushioned your fall."
Upon hearing this strange revelation, I try to recall seeing her and Issei. After thinking for a moment, I sigh in irritation while shaking my head. It's no use. All I remember is walking through the temple door and ending up on the deck of a ship.
"Hey, look, don't worry about it." Issei states reassuringly while patting me on the back. "If you can't recall it, then there's no sense in getting worked up over it. Let's just go get some water, huh?"
After spending a moment longer trying to make sense of the absurd circumstances, I finally concede with a heavy sigh.
"Yeah, that sounds good."
Issei and I sit at the bank of the temple's mountainside lake. After rehydrating and assuring the monks I was alright, Issei insisted he take me back here for some fresh air. As my gaze remains locked on the glistening water, I can only feel negative association. After all that crap with the Mingawa River and Horizon Creek, I can confidently say I hate it.
"So, Emiya?" Issei suddenly asks me while pinching a stone from the gravel shore we sit upon.
"So what?"
"What did you come all the way up here for? Is something wrong?" He punctuates his question by slinging the stone across the water, skipping several times before vanishing.
"Pretty quick to assume something's up." I snap back a little pointedly. "Is it that unbelievable that I may have just wanted to see my good friend?"
"I've barely seen hide or hair of you the last week." He spits back at me, even more defensively. "So, yeah. I think it's safe to assume something's wrong. Having you collapse right at our front doors doesn't help to ease my suspicion either."
I force out a chuckle, but he doesn't share in the laughter. He seems very serious today. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, what with me knocking out cold right in front of him… I suppose there's no use in mincing words.
"This is going to sound strange," I begin, "but how much do you know about the Ryuujin Matsuri? I've heard about it recently, and I need to know as much as I can. It has its origins here at Ryuudou Temple, right?"
Issei looks at me, flabbergasted. It seems as though he wasn't expecting that to be what I came out here to ask him. His brow remains skewed and he briefly clears his throat before answering.
"The Ryuujin Matsuri? Why do you want to know about something like that? It's a retired old festival; only my father and the older monks here even remember it, let alone celebrate it."
I continue to just stare at him expectantly, without responding to his hesitance to share. After seeing I won't budge on the topic, he sighs before continuing.
"You're so weird sometimes. Alright, fine! I don't know why you want to know about that dusty old fairytale so badly, but I'll tell you all I know… The Ryuujin Matsuri, the Dragon God Festival, is a decrepitly old festival that has been a tradition for as long as this temple has existed. In other words, a really long time. The story begins with a wanderer monk encountering a rambunctious dragon during his travels."
I patiently wait for Issei to rehash all the details I learned about back at the library. Once he's finished regaling all the information I already knew, I continue waiting for his further elaboration. However, he just stays silent.
"And?" I finally urge him. "What else?"
"W-What do you mean 'what else'? That's the whole story of it."
"Oh, come on! I already knew all of that, isn't there anything more you know of it?!"
Issei looks even more puzzled after my insistence on learning about this festival.
"Emiya, that really is all there is to the story. Why do you even care so much? It's just a stupid tall tale made up to make the temple seem more prestigious and mystical."
I sigh after seeing no trace of cooperation or understanding in his eyes. I simply groan in defeat and sprawl across the gravely shore with resignation.
"Whatever." I mumble in disappointment. "You're right, it was stupid anyways…"
Once again, I'm no closer to finding out the truth of what happened back then.
"…Emiya." Issei calls me once more from where he's seated beside me. "Why do you want to know about it so badly? You still haven't told me."
"…" I frown at his question, having no idea how to respond.
I hear Issei continue after seeing I won't respond.
"Does the reason have something to do with why you haven't been coming to class? Why you haven't been attending archery practice?"
"Yeah, something like that…"
We sit in silence for a while. I'm not sure how much time has passed, but I can assume we've been out here for at least a couple of hours, based on the sun crawling atop the tree line over the lake.
As I begin deciding I should probably head home soon, I hear Issei shifting on the gravel next to me. I rise back into a sitting position once I see he has turned from the lake to face me. He quickly scooches across the gravel until he's only a couple inches from my face, causing me to warily lean back from him.
"Uhhh-"
"There's one other part to the story, Emiya." Issei suddenly states, cutting me off.
"W-What?"
Issei quickly darts his eyes around and turns his head to look left and right. He's acting like he's worried someone will hear him.
"This isn't something I'm allowed to tell you." Issei whispers to me in a serious tone. "There are certain things that we aren't supposed to repeat to outsiders when we take our vows. For some reason, the last part of the Ryuujin Matsuri myth is one of them."
My eyes widen as I cling onto every word he says. His expression looks hesitant one last time before hardening with resolve. I watch his hand lift up and firmly plant on my shoulder.
"Emiya, I know how much of a hardass you are. You take everything too seriously, you seem to hate fun things even more than me, and the only thing you ever seem to care about is archery practice."
My surprise and suspense rapidly diminish at his words. They've been replaced by irritation and deflation. Upon seeing my frown, Issei quickly continues.
"It's because of that, I know you wouldn't be missing that archery practice unless something serious is going on. In that same vein, I know you wouldn't come out here and ask me about that old legend unless you had a very good reason. Even if you will not tell me what that reason is, as your friend I will truthfully tell you all I know about that festival."
I attempt to respond, but he continues before I can get a word in.
"This isn't a part of the story I learned from my father. Or any of the monks, for that matter. They don't like discussing this part of the festival's legend, even among ourselves. I only came to know this secret when reading the scrolls illustrating our temple's history and traditions. I found out around a year ago when I examined said scrolls as part of my training to become a monk."
Hearing Issei explain how tight-lipped the monks are about the story, I grow to dread hearing whatever the cut part he's foreshadowing is.
"The main difference from the widely accepted version," Issei cotinues, "the version you know, is that the monk didn't use his holy power to convert the dragon to Buddhism. He struck a deal with the dragon."
"A deal?" He nods in affirmation.
"Yes. The monk agreed to amass devout followers for the dragon. In return, the monk asked the dragon to share his unique power with him."
"The dragon's 'unique power'? What do you mean?"
"…Well," Issei finally continues after hesitating one last time, "according to the version in our temple's scrolls, the dragon's true power came from him being something akin to a seer. The power of prophecy… He could foresee people's death, Emiya."
My eyes widen upon reaching the inevitable dark twist to the story that I was dreading.
"He could predict someone's demise?" I fearfully ask for confirmation. Once Issei nods, I continue. "You said he wished to use the dragon's power in return for giving hm worshippers and revere. Does that mean…?"
Issei nods once more while his face morphs into an ashamed expression.
"Yeah. The temple's monks used the dragon's power to predict how people would perish. Occasionally they would even be able to accurately predict when, but for the most part the dragon could only foretell how. Soon, the predictions of the temple (dragon) proved true, as those whose deaths were discerned would come to fall prey to those very foresights. They harnessed this power to build reputation and favor for the temple, causing all the citizens to truly revere the temple monks as divinely appointed.
"As I said, the monk who used his divine power to 'pacify' the dragon really tamed him by offering a deal. The dragon would lend him his power to divine the fates of others, and in return the monk would create a devout temple around the dragon that revered him as a god and offered up piety and sacrifice in his name… or so the legend goes."
I join Issei in staring across the glistening lake, in which the dragon likely once made his dwellings in.
"The legend of the Dragon God… Ryuujin Matsuri." I quietly state while trying to piece together all this new information into some sort of conclusion.
"Yep… You can see why the monks would prefer the revised issue to that one, right?" Issei responds while forcing a nervous smile. "But uh, try not to sound so dire when you say it, huh? The important part of that phrase is the word legend. As in, a made-up story. The original version of the festival's myth may be darker than the one you knew, but it's still a myth all the same."
I try to force a smile to show silent agreement with Issei, but I can't seem to muster one. I pull the arrow from my pants and affix my gaze to the metallic arrowhead.
"Yeah… just a myth." I grievously mutter.