Chapter 145

In the end, he decided to just bring the plate to Kuzuki and Caster's room and hope that Caster was already too full to eat it, and that she would be too busy talking with him to eat the food for Kuzuki. He made a mental note to make even more food next time, and to help restock the pantry for the monks tomorrow, since they had burnt through the food like it was nothing.

He passed by his room, and he slid the door open for a peek.

Inside the room, there was Saber, peacefully sleeping away with her stomach full after the wonderful meal she had earlier, a satisfied smile on her face as she lay on the futon.

Sliding the door closed again, he continued on his way, committing another sleeping face to his memory.

When he reached Caster and Kuzuki's room, he heard their voices some ways off, so he stopped at the door, hoping to listen in on what they were talking about.

Unfortunately for him, Kuzuki was particularly sensitive to noises and signs of people nearby.

"Emiya, is that you? Please come in."

The conversation within the room stopped when Kuzuki called out to him, and with no other choice, he stepped into the room.

"I brought some food for you, and I also wanted to ask Caster something."

Kuzuki nodded and gestured to the cushions on the floor, Shirou going to one opposite the two and sitting down there as he set the plates on the low table.

"What is it you want to talk about Shirou?"

Caster was in her casual dress, her hat off and the golden hair exposed to the world as she sat cross legged, unlike Saber who knelt on the floor with her knees touching the ground in proper form. Her staff was nowhere in sight, likely in spirit form to save energy.

Shirou stretched out his hand in response, and concentrated. A gun clicked in his head as he activated his Circuits, a warmth running through their body as the energy flowed through them.

"Trace on."

Caster and Kuzuki watched as energy gathered in his palm, light glimmering and solidifying into a recognizable shape as a knife appeared in his hands, which Caster recognized as the knife that he had been using in the kitchen earlier when he was cooking with her. If it was just looking from the outside, there wasn't much difference between the two. The patterns on the wooden grain of the handle was exactly the same, and the blade's shape and curve was about the same as what she remembered, with even the light striking it in a similar manner as the other blade.

"Besides performing Reinforcement, I can also do Projection as well, along with Structural Grasping to assist in both."

He placed the knife on the table, and Caster gripped it in her hands, feeling it's weight and solidity. It felt quite similar when she gripped it, but upon lifting the tool, it just felt off somehow. Was it lighter than the original one?

"My projections are hollow in the end though, no matter how closely I try to replicate them. They just don't match up to the original object."

He hesitated for a moment, then lowered his head and bowed, going into a dogeza right in front of Caster as he got on his knees and placed his hands together on the floor, with his forehead pressing against the back of his hands.

"But, I would like to ask for a chance to try Projecting the swords you use Caster! Please!"

Caster was taken aback by his sudden fervor and passionate plea, but she quickly went over to him, and tried to lift him up from his position.

"There's no need to bow to me like that, Shirou. If you wanted to do so, just ask me normally." She managed to pull Shirou back up into sitting position as her strength won out over his human ability. Once she got him back up again, she sat in front of him and looked him dead in the eye.

"Are you sure you can handle projecting one of my catalysts though? They're not just some random kitchen knife you can find in most households. I can tell why you're trying to do this, but if you push too far, the consequences can be severe."

Even as she spoke, she could tell he had already made up his mind. He was a magus after all, no matter how amateur his magecraft was, and he deeply understood the meaning of walking with death as a magus. He had incorrectly performed magecraft every day since Kiritsugu's death, skirting the boundaries of death each time he forcefully transformed his nerves into temporary makeshift Circuits that exacted a heavy toll on his body, and broke down after less than a day.

Knowing that trying to Project her sword catalysts could potentially kill himself was scary, but he had long since conquered that fear.

"I know, but still I want to try."

How would he become a hero if he stood safe and secure behind the backs of others every time?

Caster looked at him, then Kuzuki opened his mouth to speak, having finished the food that Shirou had brought over. Caster pouted slightly at the empty plates with not a single speck of leftovers, but she didn't react any further as Kuzuki talked.

"If you're aware of the risks, then I don't see any problem."

Caster turned to look at her Master.

"Are you sure? If something happens, he could be severely injured. At worst, he could explode from trying to channel the power to Project them. And even if he succeeds, he'll just have succeeded in making a hollow replica."

Caster's words rang true, but Shirou believed that even a degraded copy of her catalysts would benefit him immensely. He'd seen what they could do, and if he could even slightly reproduce a tenth of their effects, he'd be able to accomplish much more, in pursuit of his dream.

"That may be. But it doesn't seem like he's going to give up just like that. Better he do it under your supervision, than trying by himself in an ill-advised attempt."

Caster stared at the older man, then nodded, sighing as she got to her feet.

"Come one Shirou. Let's go somewhere safer, where we can reduce the factors of you dying. "

"Thank you Caster, and thank you Souichirou-sensei!"

"No need to thank me Emiya. And call me Kuzuki."

"Thank you Kuzuki!"

With that, Shirou followed Caster out, leaving Kuzuki behind with a bunch of empty plates in the room.