Knowledge
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(Shirou's room, after breakfast as seen in the last chapter)
(Sakura)
"Now that Tohsaka's probably distracted with whining about me," Caster said once Sakura closed the door behind the three of them, "We can cover some super-critical things."
The girl Servant sat down on the bed and motioned the other girl over. As Sakura approached her, she realized that someone had cleaned up. Not that she had left it messy, but still by the time she had Shirou had left for breakfast the sheets were still... well, dirty. But what she sat on seemed freshly aired.
"What?" Sasaku said upon noticing Sakura's surprise. "The cost is basically zero - oh, I see. Well even goddesses like to have fun with their husband every now and then."
Shirou simply shrugged like I'm not even surprised, but he only said "So, are you finally going to tell us what your goal is?"
"To the point." Sasaku nodded in approval. "I've been working through what scraps are left of my memories, and my conclusion after some thought is: I personally don't really have a goal. It's like a reverse Trojan horse, or something."
"Meaning?" Shirou didn't seem surprised by either of those points, though it was news to Sakura. He had only mentioned to her that his Servant came from far away, but apparently it was because he, and even the person herself, didn't know.
"Think about telemarketers. The moment you pick up the phone, that alone already gives them valuable information - that the number goes to someone."
Sakura blinked, "You're a telemarketer?"
"No, I'm the phone call. I mentioned to you that I can't 'come back' without a couple of specific exceptions, right?" Shirou nodded. "That means a contract of some sort was signed, which means there's someone - here - able to sign a contract."
"So what does that mean though? Your home country knows there's someone out there?" By the sound of it, Shirou didn't get the point any better than Sakura did.
"Pretty much. Which means they'll be coming..." Sasaku shrugged as though it didn't matter. "But we're probably talking geologic time scales, if not cosmological. I'll be honest, it's unexpected that I'd find myself here."
"Wait a second, you sent yourself, uh what?"
"A telemarketer might calls more phone numbers than are actually in use. Don't be surprised if there's more than just one. The fact that I, a copy, am here means that there are likely many, many other copies. And besides..." she trailed off thoughtfully before continuing.
"That I came up with it probably means my original would have. It's also likely that the reason I have only 5 percent or so of my memories but still maintain a coherent cognitive state is because the one removing them was, well, me. Not by the World as I first suspected."
(Shirou)
"One moment," Shirou interrupted at this point. "I saw a dream or something of you being copied. Do you remember anything after that point?"
"No. Which makes sense, remember I'm from the copied one, not the original, so that would be expected."
"Right," he decided that, since it was confusing to no real purpose, to just drop the topic. "Magecraft now."
"Yes. After reading through Tohsaka's library-"
"You read through all that? It's been less than a whole day since then!" Sakura exclaimed in surprise. Shirou simply frowned, remembering that his Servant had mentioned the library was lacking, and paired with Rin's comment that it had been stolen from, that isn't good.
"The fact is that," Sasaku sighed, "When it comes to this world's magecraft I would basically be at your level, as my use of comparable powers, at home that is, don't follow rituals or spells like magi here use."
"But you can even do housework with magecraft?" Sakura asked, receiving a nod. "That's due to the Sorcery Attribute I have. Which works with a combination of knowledge and an act of will. the problem is I cannot transfer it to you, unless..."
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(At the end of the previous chapter, so after Rin came in and Shirou left)
(Rin)
"What."
"If I understand the process correctly, magic circuits can be crystallized into a Magic Crest that among other things, allows Sorcery Attributes to be transferred onward. Is that accurate?"
"Yes." Though that isn't the real issue. "But like I said, that is a risky process at best, and you're a Servant at that."
"Do you know what my Sorcery Attribute is?"
"Er, no," Rin admitted.
"A variant of Alchemy, the opposite of Einzbern's Wish-Granting, it allows performing 'mysteries' that I can understand. Actually, mundane things as well - those are really cheap." Sakura nodded in agreement while cheerfully combing Sasaku's hair with a... gold comb?
"Throwing spears at near the speed of sound?" she asked, remembering the attacks that had harassed Lancer in the earlier fight, and had apparently mauled Rider.
"That's actually something else, but yeah I can pick up things since, you know, standard physics applies pretty well." Sasaku demonstrated by floating a pillow over Sakura's head before dropping it back in place. "Because it's hardly mysterious at all, the cost is nearly zero. Somehow. I don't know what the equivalent of Conservation of Energy is when magical energy is involved."
"There's odd gaps in the World's rules," Rin explained, having asked similar questions herself. "If you try to abuse one too much, the World takes notice and will squeeze you, as it were. But yes, you can get away with things, as long as it's small."
"Do you have any spells you can pass on through a Crest?" Sakura asked after a moment as though it just occurred to her. "If you don't have normal spells, what does that look like?"
"Hmm, you're right there," Sasaku muttered. "While I effectively use a spell, the process that takes place in my will cannot be copied over as the format would be unintelligible to you. At best. But I think if you use the circuit and develop your own 'acts of will' you'd be able to pass those down."
Rin didn't miss Sakura coloring at the mention of passing down crests. I guess Kojirou was right, they're really serious, huh?
"I still don't understand how you intend to integrate a Servant's Crest into a normal human though," she said after a while. "I can't think of any reason why that might not be instantly fatal, given that the spirits involved are on completely different levels."
"Actually," Sakura spoke up with sudden confidence, "It might be easier if you think of it as less of an organ transplant, but rather like binding a familiar. Servants are familiars of a sort, after all."
"Yes, but even that requires the Grail to mediate, and even then you only really get those specific Command Spells, that use a lot of energy. It's why we're limited to three."
"Did Medusa say she thought that would work?" Sasaku asked. Sakura nodded. Apparently the Rider had been in on their discussion as well.
It was about that point that she realized that Shirou's absence might not be coincidental. Rin was growing suspicious when Sakura concluded "Really, it seems like I'm the natural choice for this."
He wouldn't do something like this, but if she's going behind his back...
This odd scene made sense even if Sasaku knew about the relationship between Sakura and Rin, if she primarily wanted to increase Shirou's capabilities. Unfortunately, while the Caster might have any number of reasons, the fact was it put Sakura at risk.
"I can't agree to help you with that," Rin sighed though she also felt a rising sense of irritation. "What you're proposing is little more than a dangerous experiment."
(Sakura)
"What would you know about that?" Sakura snapped at her, much to Rin's surprise. "I'm not having you get in my way."
Crest. What Medusa suggested had probably stumbled on exactly what Zouken did with his worms, and explained his choice of familiar. Crest. The irony of Rin saying she disapproved of someone experimenting on her! At least Sasaku actually intended to give the.. Crest.
"No." Sakura said as Rin was about to speak, but she was actually speaking more to herself than anyone else. Her confrontation with the Count, and its ending, had frightened her quite a bit. It isn't for me, it's because I am the better choice. Also, if it worked, Shirou could get the same as well, so it wouldn't take anything from him. Sakura nodded to herself, satisfied.
"There's a few things even you don't know," she said out loud. "It will work."
Rin's stubborn expression softened. "You might be confident of that, but unless you are willing to share, I literally can't help in such a process, because of, you know."
Ah.
"No, don't. It might help if I said I would do it regardless, and your cooperation would only reduce any risks involved," Sasaku said before Sakura could reply. "Or, you know, you could just make an exception for this one thing," she commented.
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(Medusa)
It seems Sasaku is genuine the Rider thought to herself. Unlike Rin's misgivings, Medusa had every confidence after seeing Sakura binding the spirit that had tried to take over her. Compared to that, binding a small and non-sentient bit of one would be trivial in comparison. Especially if it is being willingly given up specifically to be absorbed.
She suddenly had a bad premonition about Sakura absorbing more into herself. As a matter of fact... Medusa felt a chill as she checked for a bit and realized her connection with Sakura was not, as earlier, being primarily mediated through the Grail.
Was it really absorbing the curse that changed me? I wasn't doing any of that from the time I was injured until I came out, already like this. Furthermore, based on what had happened afterwards, Sakura actually could bind spiritual beings on the level of Servants.
As abruptly as it came, the tension left Medusa. After all, Sakura didn't seem to be unstable, even if her priorities were rather focused on Shirou. To be honest it felt good to be able to rest for a bit with a book and not have to worry every moment.
I wonder if being more of an actual familiar means it might be possible to stay on after the War?
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Notes:
Somehow I wonder if Medusa is a bit over-optimistic.
Things like Sasaku's Realm Creation and Thousand Layered Shield(s) are Skills, not spells, so they can't be added to a Magic Crest.