Shirou Emiya always had a pension for getting into…undesirable situations. It was in his nature to help anyone and everyone, regardless of the situation and the adversary he faced. After all he'd faced countless foes ranging from: Dead Apostles to Heroic Spirits.

So when he found himself in the middle of a lush green field one could imagine his confusion. He peeked left and right, seeing the field stretched as far as the eye could see.

Shirou sighed.

He definitely wasn't anywhere near London anymore…

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The young magus arrived at a frontier town after some amount of walking, not that he particularly minded. The landscape was quite nice, as were the locals he managed to meet along the way.

"Now where is it?" Shirou asked himself, to approach the locals earlier he had to tell them he was looking for work. (That wasn't necessarily a lie, but it wasn't true either.) Those he met instructed him to head for the local Adventurer's Guild in town.

It was honestly hard to miss, it was most likely the largest building in town. So Shirou decided to absentmindedly walk towards it as he recounted what the information he had gathered from the locals he had met.

First. He was obviously not in London anymore, when the locals asked him where he was from he found himself without an answer as he didn't recognize any of the names of the towns, nor could he figure out what the name of the Capital was.

Next was what caught his attention.

He was told to get to town before dark, apparently he was in an area notorious for monster attacks. Specifically Goblins, while Shirou had faced many manner of creatures in the past goblins were creatures he wasn't really well acquainted with. Meaning that he hadn't been tried to be killed by this creature at least once, a part of his was somewhat curious to what these creatures looked like.

Did they really have green skin, and wielded clubs made from whatever they could find? Were they as sharp as a circular table top?

The other part of him wanted to find these creatures and put an end to them, making sure the people in the area could sleep soundly in their beds at night without fear of a goblin attacking them.

He let out a silent chuckle; he hadn't really changed much in the past few years. He was still as focused as ever to achieve his goal of becoming a Hero of Justice. He owed it to both Saber and the version of himself who came to make sure he wouldn't lead a life of falsehoods, albeit in his own special way involving a Reality Marble and several dozen copies of famous swords.

Still, he wasn't the same Shirou Emiya. He knew that his actions had consequences thanks to Rin beating it into his head, his life mattered. As she put it: "If you die, then who's going to save the next person in need?" he had to admit he agreed.

When Shirou reached the door of the guild he mentally prepared himself. From what he gathered, Adventurers were heroes for hire, not mercenaries. They had their own moral code, so heroes for hire didn't seem too farfetched of a conclusion to reach.

As his hand reached for the doorknob the old wooden door swung open, a bell jingling as it did. Out came a group of Adventurers, a young man with a sword (Which he immediately added to the Unlimited Blade Works.) a girl dressed in eastern clothing, a second girl with a wooden staff, and a third girl dressed in white vestments who had managed to bump into his shoulder.

"I-I'm sorry." She stuttered out, she must've been new to the adventuring profession. Shirou offered her a smile. "It's fine, no harm done."

Shirou watched as she ran off after her comrades before entering the guilt. Within it were adventurers of all shapes and sizes, and even races. Humans and Demi-Humans were speaking to one another, he managed to overhear one of them speaking about tactics, and another speaking about their last adventure where they had saved a town from a group of bandits.

After managing to head to the counter he was greeted by a cheerful young woman with light brown hair, and eyes that resembled a shade of gold. "Hello there." She greeted. "I haven't seen you before, are you planning on becoming an adventurer?"

"Oh no, I'm somewhat new in town." Shirou began. "I was wondering if I could find some work." The girl placed a finger on her chin, and began to tap it. "Well…the only job Id really recommend is becoming an adventurer."

"Of course." Shirou thought. "I was thinking more along the lines of labourer?"

"Adventurer." She repeated.

"Problem Solver."

"Adventurer." She said once more, a smile still displayed on her face. Shirou didn't really know how to talk to people like her, how he wished Rin was here she'd make it immediately clear what kind of work we were looking for.

Shirou sighed. "What do Adventurers do?"

"I'm glad you asked." She replied. "Adventurers are individuals who dedicate their lives to helping others for prestige and monetary compensation, behind you is the Quest Board." Shirou glanced to where the girl had directed, seeing a bulletin board littered with papers, and tacks.

"This is where all available jobs are posted. Why don't you see if anything catches your interest?" The male did as he was told and began to survey the board, his expression changing every now and then; his emotions ranging from intrigue to surprise.

Though what most wouldn't know is that he couldn't read anything on the board.

Shirou weighed his options, he was currently in a world where he didn't have any money for. He didn't have a place to stay, nor did he have a kitchen to cook his meals in, and even if he wanted to work for his keep he couldn't do anything substantial like work in an office. (As if he could.) he wouldn't be able to, due to the fact he couldn't read.

He honestly didn't have a choice, but to become an adventurer. He walked back to the girl at the counter and feigned deep thought. "I think I will become an adventurer." She perked up, clasping her hands by her face as she expressed her delight in Shirou's choice.

"That's wonderful." She began. "Now if you'd be so kind as to fill up the necessary paperwork." She sad directing Shirou's attention to a neatly stacked pile of papers on the counter. Shirou could feel his eye twitch. "Um…could you help me with this? I can't read."

After a few strenuous hours of filling in the appropriate paperwork Shirou had finally managed to find respite. He didn't know he could feel tired from writing in his basic information, and falsifying information on the fly, and he refused to think about how long it took him to write everything down in the native language.

At least there was an upside.

The girl who had introduced herself as Guild Girl, had finally finished registering him into the extensive list of adventurers who frequented the Adventurer's Guild. "There I'm done." She said, then proceeded to hand Shirou a small leather bag and a necklace that resembled a dog tag that many American marines would wear.

"That tag serves as your identification, and rank." Guild Girl informed. "Currently you are ranked Porcelain, the lowest of the 10 ranks." She smiled warmly at him. "Congratulations, you are now an adventurer."

Shirou couldn't help but feel relived, he was in a familiar line of work: Helping people; and while Rin may or may not have approved of his decision, what she didn't know wouldn't hurt her.

"Does this mean I can go out on adventures now?" Shirou asked.

"Of course." Guild Girl replied. "Though…" Her sudden shift in tone was a cause of concern for Shirou. "Though?" he mimicked.

"You wouldn't happen to have a change of attire would you?" Shirou glanced down at his person and saw what she had meant. His lime green cardigan, and jeans honestly made him stick out like the proverbial sore thumb, it was a miracle no one had brought it up prior to this conversation with Guild Girl.

Shirou smiled. "Of course, is there anywhere I could change into them?"

"There is a room in the back that we use as a storehouse, you could use it if you'd like." Shirou followed her direction, and entered the backroom, there he stretched his arms letting the tightness in his joints relieve.

"Okay, let's get started." The ginger checking the door then making sure it was locked before he readied himself, he shut his eyes and took a breath. "Trace on." Heat filled his body as all 27 of his Magic Circuits came to life, filling with magical energy taken from the very air around him.

Shirou fell to his knees and began retching, the edges of his vision began to blur as he quickly willed his circuits to close, ceasing the intake of Mana from the atmosphere. He stayed in this position for a moment, as he tried to steady his breathing.

"You idiot!" He scolded himself, he failed to realize a crucial detail that may have almost just killed him. If Phantasmals such as Goblins and other monsters roamed the land, and were common place here it must have meant that the Age of Gods had yet to end in this world. If that were the case it would explain the Mana density in the atmosphere, he'd need to slowly adjust to this, if not he'd get a repeat of what had just happened earlier…maybe worse if he wasn't careful.

Shirou managed to get into a seated position, and breathed. "Trace on." He muttered, a gradual heat once again began to envelop his body. It was taking intense focus for Shirou to only activate a smaller number of his 27 circuits. Afterwards he counted 14 out of 27 circuits active, while this may have limited himself to his weaker Noble Phantasms, he'd return to full strength in time. Maybe after a week he'd be able to raise the number to 17 maybe 20 if he wouldn't feel any adverse effects.

Though first he needed a change of clothes. Shirou focused as he recounted the steps to Tracing an object.

Judging the concept of creation

Hypothesizing the basic structure

Duplicating the composition material

Imitating the skill of its making

Sympathizing with the experience of its growth

Reproducing the accumulated years

Excelling every manufacturing process

The magical energy he was expelling was beginning to take shape before him, it was the only outfit that felt right to him. The magical energy began to materialize on his body as his clothes were replaced with sleeveless black body armor, as well as a pair of black amored pants, steel toed boots, and finally a red mantle. It was his armor, and he'd don it to protect the innocents just as he did.

Though while it was everything Shirou imagined and more, there was always room for improvement. His hand brushed over the right sleeve, and caused it to vanish. He willed the magical energy still lingering to reform into a different form, and brushed the same hand over his forehead causing a scarlet bandana to appear.

He smiled, it felt more him. Though the design was taken from Archer, he made some improvements. After all, there is no rule that says a fake cannot surpass the original; nor is there a rule that a faker cannot surpass another.

When Shirou returned to the main hall he was greeted by Guild Girl who offered him a warm smile. "It suits you." She said. "It's as if you were meant to wear that."

Shirou let out a nervous chuckle, "If you only knew." he thought.

"I have a favour to ask of you if it's no trouble." Shirou did not hesitate and approached the counter, his compulsion to help was acting up again. "What is it?"

"There was a group of Adventurers that left earlier. They were all Porcelain rank like you." Shirou could almost feel something was wrong. "They all set out to clear out a nest of Goblins, and while they are the weakest of all monsters I think-"

"I understand." Shirou cut in. "I'll go and see if they need my help." Guild Girl smiled widely, as she handed him the flyer that contained the information regarding the quest. He thanked her and then bolted out of the Guild, his expression changing into one that knew the dangers of underestimating your opponents.

Shirou recalled his experience of dealing with Crest Worms, they weren't the most physically imposing creature but they were dangerous nonetheless. They were able to drain a Magus' reserves of Magical Energy if there were enough of them feeding on the mage they'd die within minutes.

Shirou reached the cave on the outskirts of town in under 10 minutes no thanks in part to him reinforcing his legs. The cave was just a dark maw that stretched as far as his vision would allow, he didn't have anything that could start a fire nor did he want to use any of his Projections just to start a blaze. Shirou chuckled at the thought of him Projecting a copy of Laevatein, the sword of the Fire Giant; Surtr from Norse Mythology to light a torch.

Instead he activated his circuits once more, and diverted the flow of magical energy towards his eyes. Reinforcing them, and thereby enhancing his eyesight. He could now see through the darkness of the cave, then rushed in; for in the distance he saw a figure walking towards him. The walk was delayed, and hampered indicating an injury.

Shirou rushed in, throwing caution to the wind. He had one goal and one goal only:

He had to save them…

Within the cave the young blonde adventurer struggled to get to the cave's opening. The goblins had overwhelmed the whole party, weren't goblins supposed to be dumb? That was what everyone was saying back at the Guild, then why did this happen?

Warrior died and was dismembered, what was left of him probably decorated the floor back in the deeper parts of the caverns…

Wizard's robes were stained with blood as more and more spilled out of her body, it didn't help that the blade that she was stabbed with was forcefully pulled out afterwards. The cleric pushed forwards, the exit had to be near. Then the cleric remembered the final casualty.

Fighter was…she sacrificed herself for their own survival, she allowed herself to suffer…

I need to find help

Then…a sharp pain, time seemed to slow as the cleric fell to the ground. An arrow was fired and lodged into the cleric's shoulder.

The goblins had caught up to them, kicked the cleric aside and prepared to violate wizard. Tearing away her clothes, and laughing in glee as they did so. The scent of blood mingled with the scent of petricor from within the cave, a third scent reached the cleric's nostrils. The scent of urine, it seemed to have reached the goblins as well, the pair that defiled wizard were now staring at her; their shrill laughs of glee. If this was their version of mercy, to ridicule their opponents-no the cleric wasn't even a threat to them…

Then from the darkness, a steady sound of tapping reached the group. Then without warning, an arrow embedded itself into the skull of the goblin standing over wizard.

Shirou rushed into the fray, his reinforced muscles allowing him to move quickly and easily through the uneven terrain. His circuits flared as he willed another weapon into existence. Blue light flashed as his mana took physical form, into a bow.

The goblin was only 30 feet away…though he might as well been standing directly in front of the arrow, since there was no way Shirou was going to miss; not at this distance.

Shirou loosed the arrow, it flew straight and true. Embedding itself into the skull of one of the goblins.

The remaining survivor seemed to be somewhat smarter, because as soon as his comrade died he pulled the girl in white vestments by the hair. She let out a pained yelp as she was pulled back; the goblin raised its sickly green colored hand and readied to hit the girl over the head with the club it held in its hand. Shirou nocked a second arrow into his bow, and fired.

The goblin must have thought it was being sneaky, as it pulled the girl into the flight path of the arrow and ran. Poor unsuspecting fool, little did he know he fought somewhat who was the definition of sneaky. The arrow curved around the girl's figure, and then killed the goblin by entering through his eye socket.

Two thumps sounded in the cave, the first was the goblin falling to the ground it was dead. The second was the hair from the girl the arrow had managed to cut when it had redirected.

Shirou let out a breath, and jogged over to the girl.

"Are you okay?" Shirou asked, the girl nodded slighty. He glanced back the goblins he had dispatched, and then back to her. "Are you hurt anywhere?" The girl on the verge of tears pointed wordlessly to a lump a few feet away, Shirou did not hesitate and rushed over to the lump. It was a girl, she hacked up blood with every breath she took; she was dying.

No…

She wasn't not while he was around, he wouldn't let her. He sat down next to the dying girl, and began. It did not take long, it only took a moment. He traced the only thing he knew that could save her, the one object he could trace perfectly.

Avalon.

He placed the holy scabbard on the girl with haste, as her gasps became less sporadic and steadier. This should keep her alive, her injury was bad but it was nothing Avalon wouldn't be able to heal.

"Impressive." A voice called out, causing Shirou to turn. His attention directed at the voice, what he saw almost made him draw his weapons if it wasn't for the fact that he had more self-control thanks to his time with Rin.

"Who are you?" He asked, his eyes glancing over the cheap looking steel helmet and leather armor. He could say for certain however that this person was a female, if it wasn't for the voice or the breastplate he would've assumed otherwise.

"Goblin Slayer." Was her simple reply, there was something off about her. Shirou couldn't tell what it was, but it was something…familiar. But aside from that was this person seriously called Goblin Slayer?

"Where are the Goblins?" She asked, her voice almost mechanical. There wasn't any emotion in it, then it had hit him. Trauma…was this person like him? What had happened? So many questions had rushed through Shirou's mind as he reminisced his own tragedies.

The Fuyuki Fire

Illya.

The hell his ideals would someday drag him to…

He shook his head, and watched as the newcomer weaved in between him and the girl. The girl he had used Avalon on was hacking blood once again. Was it not enough? No that's impossible, Avalon heals all wounds fatal or otherwise.

"Is this your magic?" Goblin Slayer asked.

"Yes, it should finish healing her wounds within the hour." He replied. Goblin Slayer took a knife from her belt and placed it atop the girl's heart. "You're wasting your time." Was all she said before plunging the blade into the dying girl's chest.

Shirou almost throttled her right then and there if it wasn't for the girl in white. "What was that?! We could've saved her!"

Goblin Slayer straightened, even without taking off her helmet Shirou could tell that she was looking directly at him. "Goblin blades are poisoned, not by any poisonous plants or any animal venom, but from the filth that comes from them. Their blood, feces, and whatever else they manage to kill. It is extremely potent, and unless an antidote is taken immediately there is no hope of survival."

Shirou clenched his teeth. "You don't know that…" The projection of Avalon vanishing, as his eyes filled with a silent determination to prove Goblin Slayer wrong. "You can save everyone in front of you, all you need to do is try!"

"I see." Was the only reply she gave, Shirou wanted nothing more than to reinforce his fist and drive it through that cheap steel helmet. Shirou glanced down to the girl who was still holding onto him. She was trying desperately to keep Shirou calm, she even began praying to someone called the Holy Earth Mother.

"I am going to kill all the Goblins in this cave." Goblin Slayer announced. "Will you join me?" Shirou looked down at the girl who nodded, and picked up her staff. Goblin Slayer looked at him as if to say: "And you?"

"I'm coming too, I'll help keep her safe." Shirou said, the "Her" in question was the girl in white, who raised one of her hands.

"Um…I'm Priest." Shirou deadpanned, at this new information.

"Priest…not Priestess?" Shirou asked hoping he could salvage what remained of this situation without feeling any awkwardness. Priest shook his head, Shirou let out a sigh.

Rin would've laughed at him if she was here.

Okay welcome to this mess of a story, I'm participating in a writing contest so I hope the people who find this enjoy it to some extent. I don't write much, but I love Fate so I jumped at the chance to write a story about it.

Please don't be too harsh with me.