Chapter 28
Beta: Worldbringer of Joseun
Cover: LousGndiner
Deep breaths.
In…
Illya closed her eyes as the throbbing continued. It was incessant and irritating, much like her grievances have been as of late.
… and out.
When Illya opened her eyes, the ever-familiar song of violins and lyres filled her ears. It was nearly the end of tonight's ball. Illya just needed to stay strong until then. The other Round Table members had been mingling with the few Landers willing to interact with them.
However, not Illya.
She just knew that, with these headaches, she was going to snap somehow and ruin it for them. Hence her current voluntary seclusion. A small bounded field had been prepared just in case. It was all she needed to ensure that nobody, not even a serving maid, would attempt to approach her. Those that intentionally sought her out would end up being influenced to seek out someone else.
The ten or so `friends` lurking in the rafters and beneath the venue were merely some of whom Illya wanted to avoid. If Saraliya wanted to know more about her, then she'd have to wait.
Illya understood that this decision could hurt their chances in future talks, and she knew that there would be more, but between that and the risk of making some ill-spoken comment, she'd rather take the risk.
Sure, she had been using self-hypnosis to make it as if she could not feel the pain, but that had stopped working hours ago. It was as if her very body was rejecting it, almost as if it couldn't tolerate what she was trying to do.
It was her body, damnit! Let her do what she wanted with it!
Mental griefs aside, Illya was surprised to admit that what little mingling she could do had been somewhat rewarding. A few discussions with a few minor counts led her to learn that many were still interested in continuing relations with adventurers.
For example, the nobility sought a relationship so that they could return to the old quest-giving norm. Hiring Lander mercenaries for the same tasks were unreliable at best, especially when compared to what they had before– immortal warriors. Illya labeled these sorts of nobles traditionalists.
Another example lies with the common Lander, who would seek mutually beneficial employment. Compared to seeking out employment from another Lander, it would be much easier. These sorts of Landers would be supported by nobles who want to see greater change, and perhaps even learn from said adventurers, sort of like Langrissa Cowen and her endeavors in the academia. These Landers are what Illya decided to call reformists.
Though equally as interesting, was that an equal amount of nobles would rather keep their distance, but it wasn't for reasons that she initially thought like them being rather inhuman.
No, this faction of nobility, while appearing to be traditionalists, was far more extreme. They'd rather forego the chance of regaining the old norms for cultural protection. They seemed to abhor the fact that most of their history and achievements were seemingly superimposed at a rapid pace. Extremists, perhaps? Though, Illya thought that it was somewhat of valid concern. After all, their cooking had already been replaced.
"They'll likely be trouble…" Illya muttered.
Three factions of Landers. One of them greatly outnumbered the rest. Another lacked the repute to make a proper stance. And finally, the ones that'd get in the way if left alone. If Illya had to guess, it may be the conservative faction that was the majority, with extremists in the minority.
Illya would have to look into proper tactics to deal with these factions–
"Trouble? Who would be?"
Illya felt her brow twitch as she found herself meeting the gaze of a familiar strategist. However, she did not lambast him with righteous fury but instead welcomed him. The minor bounded field ignored him for a reason.
"Shiroe," she greeted. "I trust that the meeting with the Academic Guild has gone well?"
"I suppose so," he corrected his glasses. "Though forgive me for requesting this, but I would rather not participate in that ever again."
"Were your fellow intellectuals too much to handle?"
"No. On the contrary, they were a little… underwhelming," he sighed. "Though, that is no fault on their part. It isn't fair to compare their academia to the academe of our world. Especially when many discoveries we made have yet to be made here."
"I imagine that will change the longer we stay here."
"Yes…" he had a strange look in his eye. "... in regards to that–"
"There you are!" Rin stomped over with a huff. She had in hand a plate carrying a half-eaten strawberry shortcake. "You have no idea how… insistent the people of this place are. Did you know that they'd rather do the same thing day in and day out with little change in their routine? That noble had the right idea to call their society petrified. How in the world is this country still around?"
Illya snorted with a smile. The levity of it all took away from her headache. "This is about the lack of innovation, isn't it? I heard about that."
"It's more than that," Rin muttered. "Without the urge to progress, what's left? Remaining the same for hundreds of years– not even our world is like that. A hundred years back in our world is like night and day. Here? You could barely tell the difference."
"Harsh, but not untrue," Rin's little tag-along, Ferlna agreed. "However, were we not supposed to be meeting with Lady Langrissa at this time?"
"Her father, Lord Cowen, ended up needing both of his daughters for something," Rin sighed. "She made it sound like it was something urgent. It's best not to bring attention to it, especially if they're already discreetly hidden away. We could be seen as nosy if we did… but we do have our ways of learning."
"I know, I know," Illya rolled her eyes and focused on her familiars, cycling through their `eyes` until she found the room that the Cowen family was in. "From the looks of it, they're going over a few reports. One, in particular, seems to have gotten ol' Mamanesia all frazzled."
"Is there a date on that report?" Shiroe asked. Though, he still seemed on guard at the Emiya Family and their strange methods, likely because he was still trying to figure it all out. Unfortunately, he'd have to understand magecraft to do so. "And do we have to fear for… prying eyes?"
"It's a relatively recent one. Give or take, it came from a few hours ago, likely via courier," Illya answered. "And no, they won't approach us, much like they won't approach our rooms. I'm sure you'll figure it out sooner or later."
"That puts me at ease," Shiroe muttered before narrowing his eyes. "However, that timing is a little too convenient. Isaac contacted me earlier mentioning that they were pushing forward into zones where Brigandia members were sighted. He only bothered to tell me when they were already there."
"They must be seeing the approach in a negative light," Ferlna surmised with a frown. "Should we smooth it over?"
"Wait for them to ask," Illya said. "For now, can we know why Isaac is pushing? I thought it was too risky. It'll take too long to establish a supply route. Not to mention, the long trek back should they die."
They were up against fellow players. Dying is a real possibility, and while none have yet to – barring a few idiots testing fall damage limits – they didn't want to weaken their vanguard by giving their opponents an advantage. The closer they push to Susukino, the shorter the route Brigandia would have to take. It was like a tug of war, as simplistic as that sounded.
"Isaac said that he had a plan, though he didn't go into detail," Shiroe frustratedly frowned, likely confused with Isaac's decision. Illya was of the same mind. "We'll simply have to put our trust in him."
"Yes, even if it might be his actions causing the current issue with the Cowens," Illya frowned. She never liked that smug asshat, but he seemed easy to control. Did he have some unseen agenda? Nah, that buffoon wasn't that savvy. "It seems that they've agreed on simply waiting it out… Hmm!?"
"Is something wrong?" Lord El-Melloi II walked up to them with a glass of wine. "You're looking at me oddly."
"Perhaps it has to do with your present… company," Rin chose her words wisely.
"What's that supposed to mean? I came here to give a report, not to be gawked at," Michitaka grumbled. "But before that, where's Krusty? Is he not joining us?"
"Preoccupied. He's busy entertaining quite a few fair maidens," Illya shrugged. "Though, it'd be more accurate to say that they're entertaining themselves watching him and the princess together."
Despite his boasts about finding an unbreakable shield, it seems that he did not take into account the persistence of an infatuated teenage girl… not that she had any grounds to stand on.
"I'd say that I envy the guy… but then again, that sounds like a pain," Michitaka sighed. "Right, I just wanted to say that the meeting with Lord Barte was a bust. I managed to secure a future meeting with the guy, but I'll need the strategist there with me. He wants the Ocypete."
"That's troublesome," Shiroe sighed. "Can we not settle for posting caravan protection quests?"
"Through the low-level areas? That's child's play," Michitaka raised a brow.
"Exactly," the strategist smiled. "I've been receiving messages from Marielle. She says that there are more students than anticipated and that the original plan of dungeon diving might be pushed off. If we can replace that with the caravan quests and grade them based on whether they complete it or not…"
"I see where you're going with that," Lord El-Melloi II mused. "Not bad. However, such an agreement will likely only last as long as the adventurer school does. It might not last that long."
"Which is why we'll be using that as a way to buy time," Shiroe explained. "With that time, we could even invest in a proper road for people to traverse and further develop a connection between Akihabara and Lord Barte's Fortress city."
"The blacksmith guild would probably appreciate that," Ferlna noted. "Though, the upkeep for a road may be more effort than it is worth. While taxation is an option, we cannot guarantee frequent repairs if said road is not used enough to justify it. Not to mention the possibility of wildlife and monsters damaging it."
Well, a permanent Bounded Field feeding off the local leylines might work to fend unwanted pests away, Illya mused. Though, such a field would have to be following the leyline closely. She would need to inspect how it interconnects. Hopefully, with how Elder Tale used the Half-Gaia project for its inception, the leylines of Theldesia may end up incredibly similar to that of Earth.
"All valid concerns. We'll place it as a tentative plan until we can finalize a better one," Illya decided to leave it for later. "And for the record, I wasn't gawking at you Michitaka. Merely that the report left behind by the Cowens has gone into detail about something we didn't know about Susukino."
"Which is?"
Just as Illya opened her mouth, she quickly turned around and frowned.
Seeing her reaction, Rin followed suit but widened her eyes as she noticed something.
"The bounded field… it's been modified…?"
At her words, despite quite a few people being unaware of their meaning, the adventurers prepared themselves with weapons being drawn at the ready. Even if they knew they were in a public setting, the instincts practically engraved into their bodies were impossible to ignore.
What was it? Illya frowned. This sense of unease… actually, now that she thought about it, why was she feeling excitement…?
She shook away those thoughts for now. Instead, she focused on the world around them. The flowers decorating the veranda seemed to die, but she could somehow feel that they were still alive. The moonlight blurred as if obscured by some sort of lens. But above all, what drew their collective attention…
… was the ephemeral mist… and the figure clad in orderly rags.
"A bounded field…" he muttered. "So that is what it is called…! How fascinating…!"
In a flash, Shiroe's ever-faithful Assassin presented herself before them, as if to put herself between the stranger and her lord in a battle-ready formation.
If only he was a stranger though.
"Lord Sage…?" Ferlna muttered. Then, as she was about to bow her head in respect, she looked around them. "None of the other nobles are bowing…?"
"It's because they don't notice him," Illya frowned. "Like they didn't notice us earlier."
A lucky break, she supposed. It wasn't in the parameters of the bounded field to make the nobility ignore armed adventurers. The Sage of Miral Lake…
It looks like Illya was right in seeking him out.
"It truly is fascinating…!" The Sage said, fingers tapping against each other as he gazed around them. "To have a mobile sensory and mental manipulation zone… or perhaps it is not mobile? No, this was set up quite recently was it not? Truly astonishing…!"
He paused as if catching himself.
"Pardon me. You people must be representatives of the Round Table," he bowed in greeting, but anyone with an eye could tell that it was a mere formality that he wanted to be done with. "You may know me as the Sage of Miral Lake, but I prefer to be known as Regan. I have come to speak with you tonight."
Taking the plunge, Illya returned it and put her weapon back in her inventory… even if the act of doing so gave her another bout of irritation. Blasted headache.
"We are pleased to make your acquaintance," Illya eyed the others to repeat the gesture. A few reluctantly did, with only Ferlna and Rin doing so immediately. "Pardon me for asking, but who is it exactly that you've come to speak with?"
He blinked.
"Ah… who?" he tilted his head. "Strange. I was under the impression that it was you who sought me out?"
A familiar ghastly figure emerged from the floor.
"I have done as asked, Illyasviel," Krentelfal joyfully declared. "It was a bit difficult locating young Regan, but once I learned of his library's location, it was easy enough to reach!"
"Is that…" Michitaka blinked. "Isn't that the quest giver for Tulius' armor? What is that scam artist doing here?"
"Scam artist!?" He bellowed, and Illya could immediately tell that Michitaka hit a sore spot. "Good sir! For the sake of my master's professional relations, I will leave you off with but a warning! See to it that it doesn't happen again!"
"You just had to anger the ghost," Rin muttered. "...but that's the first time I've seen him angry."
"Considering that the guy's quest drop rates were both unfair and unreasonable, I think I'm a little bit justified in calling it what it is…!" Michitaka hastily whispered back. "Do you know how long I spent wasting my time hunting the materials for a ticket, only to roll in some developer's joke of a gacha system!? A week for one ticket! Less than one percent drop rate! That shit's not fair!"
"It's not my fault you weren't worthy," he snorted. "Unlike lady Illyasviel. Why I'd say Tulius himself would've congratulated her for her tenacity."
…. Being praised for basically being a shut-in doing one quest for ages wasn't what Illya would call tenacity, but a compliment was a compliment.
"More importantly," Shiroe interrupted. "Illyasviel… I trust that you have a proper explanation for everything?"
"After this," she reassured, but the look in his eyes betrayed his slight distrust. It was warranted though, Illya ruefully admitted to herself. "Yes, it was I. Though, I will admit to being surprised. I didn't expect such a hasty reply."
"Call it personal interest," Regan smiled. "After all, there are quite a few members of your entourage that have caught my attention. I trust you are not adverse to them joining you?"
"If the people in question don't mind," Illya said as she looked among them. "Though, you'll have to enlighten us as to who they are."
"Magi Tohsaka," he quickly said, to Rin's strangled response. "Shiroe of Log Horizon… oh, and now that I see him, the Enchanter at your side. Yes, he looks like a fascinating fellow!"
"My apologies, Lord El-Melloi II," Illya muttered. "It seems that interest has been taken in you."
"It was bound to happen eventually," he replied. "Nobles and high society… those of Maihama are much less what I am used to, but perhaps this fellow will be different."
"I hope that was a compliment!" Regan excitedly twiddled his fingers.
It wasn't, but let him believe what he wanted to.
"Michitaka," Shiroe called. "Sorry about this, but can we leave you to handle this alone?"
"I can stay behind with him," Ferlna offered as she hesitantly looked back to the Sage of Miral Lake. "I… do not feel as if I would be invited."
"I'm willing for a plus-one," Rin offered.
"No, someone will need to explain your disappearances to the nobility," Ferlna looked back to said nobility, blissfully unaware of what was occurring on the veranda. "I doubt lord Michitaka would be willing to do so."
"Sorry," he apologized. "I can do corporate apologies, but I haven't exactly had experience in apologizing for my company essentially ghosting a banquet."
"Oh, fantastic wordplay good sir!"
Michitaka's eyes twitched. "It wasn't…"
"Don't forget to tell Krusty," Shiroe reminded as he steeled his nerves.
"With that out of the way," Illya muttered and met Regan's eyes. "Where to?"
The mist swirled and coagulated behind him. It looked like a distortion in space…. Which was precisely what it was.
"To my library, away from prying eyes," he tilted his head. "I trust that whatever you wished to discuss, you would rather it be in private?"
"Astute of you," Illya took a deep breath, ignoring the small part of her telling her that taking a step into a portal capable of special displacement meant that her life was in the Sage's hands. Though, that probably didn't matter as much with their immortality.
It was frightening how little she was starting to value her own life.
"Krentelfal, stay behind with Michitaka. Be sure to get along."
At his grudging agreement, Illya entered the portal.
A short second later, the others followed suit.
Three magi, a strategist, his little assassin, and an eccentric sage walk into a library.
It sounded like the start of an odd joke, but it wasn't.
It was a strange assembly, but honestly? She had seen weirder in the Holy Grail War. All that was on Illya's mind right now was the figure before them, slowly walking deeper and deeper into the seemingly endless library… and the books scattered at their feet.
Seriously, if her dear brother were here, he'd be disgusted at the place.
"Ah… how embarrassing," Illya heard the Sage mumble. "I swear I had some potions lying around here somewhere? Perhaps we should have brought some of the beverages at the banquet?"
"Should a sage of your renown be pilfering from a banquet like a common beggar?" Rin raised a brow.
"Probably now," Shiroe sighed as he opened his inventory. "Don't worry about it. I have some wine lying around in here somewhere…"
As she watched Shiroe take out a bottle of middling quality, Illya withheld the urge to wince at the near broken cup of tea being presented to them. Without a tray even, because the so-called sage was using a book as a serving tray!
… Was reaching out to this man truly worth the effort?
A twinge of irritation mixed with some pain told her that it was.
"Help yourselves," Shiroe offered a cup to the others.
"Thank you for the offer, but I'd rather get straight to business," Illya rejected.
"She speaks for herself," Rin smiled as she was handed a cup. "It's been a while since I've had any kind of alcohol. The last time I've had any was… Hm. It seems that this will be my first in this world."
"You drank before?" Illya raised a brow. "I'm surprised you could afford it."
"I wasn't that broke," she muttered. "Besides, it was Shirou who paid for it all. Graduation celebration and all that. Though, maybe I shouldn't. Can't exactly have a serious discussion while inebriated, now can I?"
"I think you'll be fine," Shiroe laughed slightly. "I've heard that getting drunk is impossible for an adventurer…"
Shiroe paused as he felt a slightly intense gaze from the sage.
"That bag… isn't that Dazaneg's magic bag?" Regan asked with some intrigue. "I believe making one requires a purple flame crystal and winged dragon skin…"
"Yes, I've had it order-made for me by a trusted craftsman," Shiroe replied.
"Purple flame crystal? How does it differ from a regular flame crystal? Or fire stones for that matter?" Rin asked. "I've come across almost no studies in regards to it, and I find it hard to acquire any samples."
"You'll be hard-pressed to find a craftsman willing to separate from their stock," Shiroe said. "But in regards to the differences… I suppose I didn't put much thought into it. I was more focused on what could be done with the ingredients."
Considering that Shiroe wasn't one of those lore buffs, it made sense why he'd see crafting materials as, well, just materials and nothing more.
"It's mere speculation, but I've heard that crystals are much more fragile than their stony counterpart," Regans commented. "Though in regards to their potency and output… I suppose there's not much difference. However, a purple flame crystal is rumored to be a crystal left behind when a dragon of significant strength marks its territory."
In other words, it was a drop from killing level sixty or higher dragon monsters, Illya mused. Though, he said that they were rumored to be left behind. Did that mean items of significant rarity are basically like myth and legend in their world? What about weapons and equipment of the Phantasmal class items-?
No, she was letting herself get distracted. Not good.
"Ah, perhaps I should open the discussion with a small correction," Regan suddenly shifted gears. "While I call myself a sage, it's merely a title. I'd rather fancy myself a magical scientist. Though I've taken said title from my master, I've rarely used it. I suppose today is the only time?"
"A hereditary title then…" Shiroe muttered.
"Shall we get on with it?" Illya decided to assert herself. She could feel the self-hypnosis wearing off. "But, now that we have some privacy… how did you take control of my Bounded Field?"
Being able to sneak past Bounded Fields, or even usurp control over them… She knew it was possible, but to her knowledge, such a feat wasn't possible to do in such a short amount of time. The Sage of Miral Lake likely only took a few seconds to do so. If someone like that existed in their world and was discovered, then they would've been forced to teach the technique to the Lords, lest they receive a Sealing Designation that'd keep them chained until the end of time.
Illya understood that this was an entirely different world running on a separate and unique magical system… but perhaps she had underestimated it a little too much.
"Ah, that fascinating spell?" The sage's eyes sparkled in reminiscent interest. "It was quite a challenge to find the activation matrix and rewrite it. Had that `bounded field` existed for a day or longer, removing such a thing would've taken at least an hour or two, and by that point, usurping control would've been truly impossible without at least a week of preparation. I suppose you can say that I was merely fortunate that it was only recently placed."
Editing the activation matrix…? Did that small field have that? Was the skill that the menu system gave her, which allowed her to place such bounded fields as quickly as she had, creating it out of a predetermined base?
Illya would have to get started on working out that kink in the spell. Rin already proved that modifying how a spell was cast via the system was possible. All it would take was some time and–
Shit… my head again.
"Thank you for enlightening me," Illya thanked. "It would seem that, despite my grievances about the hygiene of your abode, you truly are a person worthy of respect. I should've known that a title like yours would not be given about freely."
"And it is for that reason you've chosen to seek me out, correct?" He smiled. "Such a thing is a first for me– or rather second? Magi Tohsaka has that honor."
"Please don't call me that…" Rin couldn't stop herself from twitching. "And do you have any seats… at all? There's nothing but books as far as the eye could see."
"Ah… the books on the floor are ones I've deemed unnecessary. Make yourself at home, I suppose," Regan shrugged, callously choosing to demonstrate by sitting on a mound of books. "It's quite comfortable, granted you'll have to make a small well for your rear first."
"... Regardless," Illya continued with some irritation. "The reason I've decided to reach out to you was to ask for knowledge on a… sensitive topic. What would you ask for in return?"
"Hmm… It would depend on the topic, but perhaps an exchange in knowledge would be a much better idea?" He smiled. "After all, there is much that I wish to tell you all. Yes, including you, my silent fellow!"
"I was merely letting those who wish to speak do so without interruption," Lord El-Melloi II sighed. "I, on the other hand, do not have any questions or speculations that need to be answered. My guild master has those in abundance, especially if she went behind most of our backs to arrange such a meeting."
"You weren't aware?" Shiroe blinked. "And you? So I wasn't alone in this?"
"Unfortunately," Rin said as she sat elegantly on a stack of books. "However, I know an opportunity when I see one. If this is what Illya wants, then I'll take advantage of it myself."
"What else did I expect…?" Shiroe sighed as he gave them all an odd look. His Assassin guildmate, of course, simply looked lost. "So, an exchange? Very well. As Tohsaka said, this is an opportunity to be taken advantage of."
"Wonderful!" Regan clapped his hands. "Then, shall we proceed? There's so much that I want to–"
"The soul. How does the body of an adventurer function?" Illya narrowed her eyes to mitigate the surging headache. Though, it likely made her look irritated. "What can we do to take a look at it? How are we to know if any defects need to be dealt with?"
Illya ignored the strange looks her guildmates sent her way.
Yes, this was what she wanted to know. She already knew that whatever was afflicting her body wasn't external. Something was happening inside of her, and she had no idea what it was.
Illya knew that she was snubbing Rin's plans to conduct the research herself, but considering that Illya was experiencing these issues here and now, she couldn't afford to wait until Rin decided to get started.
Whether it was the Appearance-changing potion negatively affecting her current body, her former body's defects catching up to her, or even the Third Magic failing to be contained by the confines of this world's systems and menus… she just simply had to know.
And it would all be unraveled once she learned more about how an adventurer functions.
Regan blinked.
"Hmm…" the sage seemed to ponder. "Very well… but that knowledge will require some precursory details. It may take a while, but please bear with me. Would that be alright?"
"Go ahead," Illya sat on a pile of books. "I have all night."
Because it was technically just her who wanted this.
"I have no issues with this," Rin smiled. "After all, this has been a point of interest for me for quite a while. I had plans to conduct research of my own… but knowing a little background wouldn't hurt."
"I suppose I am also equally curious," Shiroe muttered with furrowed brows. Though, what they were furrowed about, she had no idea.
"Then let us begin with acknowledging that there are many types of magic dealing with a wide range of areas," he started. "In one such, I am specialized in the study of World-class magic. An unfamiliar term, I'm sure… because I'm half sure that only I use such terminology. I have yet to release a paper detailing it all, but you see–"
At the slight look of irritation Illya sent his way, Regan quickly apologized and gathered himself once more.
"... allow me to explain. Schools of magic divide their magic according to their scale. Action-class, Combat-class, Operation-class, Tactical-class, Strategy-class, Nation-class, Continent-class, and lastly my specialization, World-class magic."
"Are they not divided by their type?" Shiroe asked. Despite the interruption, Illya would admit to feeling some measure of confusion. Where was this exactly going?
"Division by scale considers magic from a phenomenological perspective or in conjunction with its intended purpose," he explained. "Action-class magic refers to magic capable of replicating a single action. Examples range from swinging a sword to launching an element. It is merely an action taken through the use of magic. On the other hand, Combat-class magic is used to alter the course of a single battle. Such spells can be likened to a rain of fireballs upon a small platoon. Of course, Operation-class can do the same, but at a larger scale. Perhaps two to three battles at once."
"So the primary method of classification is based on scale…" Rin muttered. "I see. Easy enough to understand. Following that logic, Tactical-class would be capable of dealing with an army or fortification. Strategy-class, an entire war…"
"... and Nation-class, a country. Continent-class, an entire continent," Lord El-Melloi II frowned. "And then there is your specialization, World-class magic. Following the trend of the previous classifications, that would mean…"
Laws, rules, the very existence, or perhaps even the fabric of their very reality. Such was a type of magic capable of altering the very world.
"That didn't exist in the game…" Shiroe ended up muttering. From the pale face of his assassin, it wasn't even a thought to them.
…Truth be told, Illya had not thought of that either.
Such spellwork, capable of altering a country to even the world itself… was that not in the realm of Noble Phantasms? No, perhaps it eclipsed that and encroached on True Magic?
Shiroe was right, there wasn't anything like that in the game–
No, wait… there was one instance she recalled.
"The concept of it, I can grasp," Shiroe chose his words carefully. "But, to say if these things even exist–"
"They do," Lord El-Melloi II frowned. His face betrayed no emotion, but in his mind, all he could think of was the feeling of unending rapture, the utter fear, and sheer hopelessness at seeing the very world– his king's world collapse and die around him. "Such magic can exist."
"And you'd need only look back in Theldesia's history books to see it," Rin frowned. She had opened her inventory and withdrawn a basic record of its history. She had intended to throw it away but was glad that she didn't.
"Indeed, such a spell has been used thrice already. Its name…" Regan smiled. "...is World Fraction."
"The Apocalypse…?" Shiroe muttered. However, his eyes betrayed no confusion. Rather, he was drawing lines and connections already.
In Illya's own thoughts, she finally realized where Regan was going with this explanation.
The origin of adventurers.
"Though, it is not the only spell of such caliber," Regan continued. His eyes were wide and somewhat maniacal. "A new spell has been cast, and its caster yet unaware of its ripples."
"A second?" Shiroe blanked. "What is its name?"
"That, unfortunately, I do not know," Regan sighed, his eyes despondent this time. "A surge of magical energy eclipsed my senses and practically rivaled that of World Fraction… and to my knowledge, it has been used only once. Fairly recently at that."
"Do you know of where?" Shiroe asked once more.
"But of course! Though, I had thought that you would be more familiar with it," he smiled. "After all, such grand magic was cast within your very city a mere month ago."
Illya twitched.
"And it appears your current company knows of it."
Shit.
"Is this really where the additional class will be held?" Tohya muttered as he looked around the clearing. "It's… wide."
True to his words, the area behind the school was emptied to reveal a large clearing. The only thing of note lies at its center, where a training dummy with a comical target on its chest stood tall and proud. Surrounding it were even more training dummies, but they lacked the target on their chest, almost as if they were haphazardly placed there.
The funny thing was, Tohya was almost sure that this was a forest not too long ago. Based on the dirt and the missing stumps… did they cut down the trees and filled in the holes to make more room?
… Nah, probably not.
"If the teachers say it is, then it is," Minori said. "I even see a few of our classmates already here."
"Then why isn't everyone here?" Tohya found himself wondering. "The teachers made it seem like it's an important class. But if it was, why not make it a part of the original curriculum?"
"Surprising isn't it?" His roommate added. A stray thought wondered if he was being too harsh on the guy. After a few more seconds of thought, Tohya prepared himself to be friendlier with the guy.
"I suppose it is," Minori nodded.
"To think that mister Tohya was able to notice such a thing…" Rudy muttered with some measure of awe. Shortly after, he `gently` pat Tohya's back. "Truly, you have surpassed expectations, mister Tohya!"
Tohya did not stumble to maintain his footing, but his eye did twitch in irritation.
Nevermind.
"Sorry that I'm late!" Isuzu, their party's Bard, managed to find their way to them. "Did it start yet?"
"Not yet," Minori answered. "Do we know where Serara is?"
"Last I saw her, she was with a Werecat dude," Tohya said. "She'll probably be here on time. Nyanta will tell her, right?"
"I'd rather be a gentleman and lead her here myself," the sudden voice of Nyanta startled him a bit, but he caught himself enough to not look like a coward. Right beside him was Serara, who was looking sort of out of it. "Well then, it was a pleasant walk, but I'll leave Serara to her party nyow~"
As he walked away, Tohya noticed who he was walking towards.
"Isn't that Shirou-nii?" Tohya muttered.
"Shiroe!? Where!?"
"Shirou-nii, not Shiroe-nii Minori," his sigh at his sister's expense caused her to clam up slightly. "I feel like we need to get used to that."
"It just feels wrong somehow…?" Minori muttered.
"Why not just call him by his username?" Isuzu offered. "Like, Emiya isn't that hard of a name to pronounce, right?"
Tohya rubbed his chin. Emiya-nii… well, it didn't flow as well in his head, but honestly? It was better than getting caught and confused between both Shirou and Shiroe. "Emiya-nii," Tohya nodded. "Eh, I'll get used to it."
"How long do they plan on making us wait?" Rudy fumed slightly as he found a tree to lean back on. "I was planning to make use of this training ground! To have such targets freely available to me… it gets my heart singing!"
"You probably won't have to wait long," Isuzu pointed to where the teachers were gathering, which was basically at the center of the clearing. "I think that's every teacher there."
"Then let's listen to what they have to say," Minori encouraged them to be silent.
Tohya had no problem listening to that advice as he sat in silence. More and more of their classmates poured in, but just like them, they seemed to be sticking close to their assigned party members. It would take another minute until everyone got settled down.
At that moment, the same person that called their attention yesterday raised her voice for the literal exact reason. Taiga, if he recalled.
"Alright everyone!" She called. "I hope you're all comfortable because this will be important! Sit tight and listen to the guest instructor while he explains everything to you!"
She turned and nodded to someone behind her. Shortly after…
"Emiya-nii's the guest instructor?" Tohya muttered. "I thought he was just learning his rotations or something… They were called rotations, right Minori?"
She simply nodded as Emiya cleared his throat.
"Thank you for settling down," he started with. "First off, I'll be making this simple for you to understand. You are all aware of the subclass secret, correct? A cook can make his own dishes. A blacksmith his blades. I'll need everyone to raise their hand if they fully understand this concept."
A forest of hands were raised, but a few only slightly so.
"If you don't know, that's fine. The teachers will be free to explain it to you after this," Emiya continued. "Now, as for why this is relevant… well, the aforementioned concept can be considered a basic version of what I'm about to explain and demonstrate."
He took out a sword from his inventory and swung it around. It looked to be a Swashbuckler's basic auto-attack. It did nothing to the dummy readily taking the attacks like it was built to do.
"As you can see, our bodies are fully capable of meeting our demands," he explained. "Whether it's a basic attack or a skill, these adventurer bodies seem to automatically know what to do and how to do it. However, do you wonder why your skills seemingly take MP to accomplish if magic is seemingly unused? Can any of you guess as to why this is the case?"
Minori raised her hand.
"Yes, miss Minori?" he said as he read her username.
"Is it because MP can also be equated to stamina?"
"Unfortunately, no," Emiya shook his head. "If that were true, then you wouldn't even be able to move if you were low on MP. I trust that wasn't the case for some of you?" At the nods, he continued. "One more chance before I give out the answer. Any takers?"
Tohya blinked as he saw Rudy raise his hand.
"From the same party…" Emiya muttered while he read the username. "Yes, Rundelhaus Kode?"
"It's what allows adventurers to perform their actions in the first place," he said. "It is the guiding hand for their extraordinary feats."
Tohya blinked.
Wow. Maybe he was smarter than he looked?
"… Correct," Emiya blinked as if stumped that someone got the answer. "It took me a while to realize that myself. It's good to see that someone's smart enough to realize that too."
"It is only expected that I, Rundelhaus Kode, would know!" He flamboyantly swept his hand out to the watching audience around them. "I am, after all, an adventurer!"
Emiya smiled awkwardly.
"Dude, you're embarrassing us!" Tohya said as he dragged Rudy down and out of sight. Ahhhh he could practically feel the blood rushing up to his head.
"Regardless, sir Kode is correct," Emiya continued. "Just as a spell can be powered by MP to enact a predetermined outcome, so too can a skill be fueled by MP to guide the body in its actions. This, as you all may know, did not exist in the Elder Tale that you played before coming here."
He winced before frowning.
"Sorry. That was tactless of me. I shouldn't have reminded you all of…" he frowned further. "Moving on. I brought that up because of a recent paper published by a fellow guild member of mine. Though you all might not realize this, Landers do have their own form of academia–with research papers and the like. My guild member, who we'll know as Tohsaka, discovered that spells aren't as rigid as we were led to believe. She detailed and demonstrated that you can modify them if you know what you're doing…"
At the slight empty looks of his listeners, he smiled.
"... Think of it this way. A fireball can be changed to become a disc. A beam can be split in two. And outside of spellcasting, a martial artist can create his own school. A swordsman can perform their own slashes and cuts without the guiding aid of an adventurer's body. The only real limitation is the creativity in one's mind… and how much MP they have," Emiya explained as he took a stance. "For example…"
The winds around him seemed to shiver.
Tohya blinked.
Emiya disappeared. It wasn't literal, but it seemed that way to Tohya. He had a hard time even realizing that Emiya was still there.
The winds intensified and seemingly struck all of the targets at the same time, doing so around two or three times before Emiya was visible once more.
"This is the skill known as End of Act," he explained. "This is a standard skill that all Swashbucklers use to clear out large swathes of enemies at a lower level than them. The lower the level, the higher the chance of instantly killing them. However, it has a long cooldown, which means it cannot be used again until three-hundred-and-twenty seconds have passed. In other words, five minutes or so."
Tohya winced. Yikes, that's harsh. But he could see it used if the tank was going to be overwhelmed with the number of enemies they'd be fighting, or if the healer wouldn't be able to keep up with the DPS of said enemies. It was still a cool skill though.
"However, with what I've explained before," Emiya continued. "I performed this skill because my adventurer body knew how to do it. The mana used as a cost was what moved my body in a way to do so. As such, what happens if we manage to learn how the mana moved in your body, and move it in a way we want it to instead?"
Tohya looked on in interest.
"Like…" Emiya shifted his stance. He didn't even look at the Training dummies around him as he raised two swords to his sides. "... this."
He disappeared once more.
The wind roared once again as if it were dragging him along with it.
However, none of the training dummies were hit. Instead, Tohya watched in wonder as he realized that the wind around them, while initially fleeting, picked up in intensity as the trees behind them were slashed one by one.
Once a single gnash was left on each surrounding tree, the wind seemed to switch focus to the central training dummy.
Slash after slash, it was clear that, unlike the previous demonstration, it would not end at two or three attacks. Two, five, eleven– it only ended when Emiya reappeared, but from how little his MP had decreased… he could've kept that up for longer.
"You can almost call it your own unique skill. This is what we've come to know as Overskills," he said. "This is mine, the first one I discovered. You can call it `Blade of Act`."
Overskills…
That sounds…
…THAT SOUNDS SO COOL!
Wait, did he use that right after he used the previous one? They don't share a cooldown!? That sounded so busted that Tohya wanted– no, NEEDED his own.
"I know it sounds fantastical, as such a thing didn't exist in the game before… well, before now," he said. "This was why your teachers decided that they could not teach it to you in your regular classes. It is also why they're here attending with you. They too want to learn how to make an Overskill. Right now, I am the only one here with the knowledge and capability to demonstrate for you… and hopefully, teach you."
Tohya couldn't help but rock himself forward and back, eager to get onto his own two feet and make his own Overskill! But what would it be like? What could he try and make? Maybe he could–
"However, that isn't to say that this will be easy," Emiya frowned. "This will likely require a lot of trial and error. You won't be able to do it on your first day. I was only able to do this after… taking a shortcut. And no, you won't be able to use the aforementioned shortcut."
"Why not?" A particularly irritated player shouted. To be honest, Tohya was also a little irritated. If he used a shortcut, why couldn't they? "It worked for you!"
"Have you ever wielded a sword before in real life? Have you ever fought someone before coming into this world?" Emiya raised a brow. At the silence he got in return, he continued. "I thought not. If you had, then you'd find that letting the mana guide your bodies to their own rhythm– outside of your control is… uncomfortable, to say the least. That is the shortcut I speak of, previously earthly experience."
"Then it should be easy for me!" Taiga laughed. "After all, in real life, I was a Kendo champion before I became a teacher!"
"Brag about it why don't you?" One of her fellow teachers muttered. A monk named `Yuuta` by the looks of it.
"Regardless," Emiya interrupted. "The best way to learn how to create your Overskills is to gain experience, and I don't mean the experience gained through defeating monsters. Real experience, much like how only cooking outside a menu from a chef can yield delicious results. It is only through trial and error that you will be able to create your own Overskills."
He lowered his voice and looked back to Taiga. She simply gave him a thumbs up before he continued.
"This extracurricular class is essentially that. To gain enough experience, you will be sparring with your classmates or practicing on dummies," he said. "Classes that use their mana for skills will be doing so without using their MP and learn how to use their weapons from scratch. I will help you do so."
Tohya looked at his katana with a hint of excitement.
And this was the same katana that Emiya-nii helped him pick out, wasn't it?
Somehow, that only got him more fired up.
"As for classes that need their mana for spells, you will need to learn how to sense the MP within you so that you can more freely shape it. Easier said than done, but my guildmate has already made close to a dozen original spells, of which half can be classified as Overskills," he said. "My guildmate, Sakura, can help you all with that. She has enough experience with it to help out."
A plum-haired Foxtail waved shyly. She had been beside Taiga the entire time, but it was only then that Tohya noticed her.
"Quite the elegant wallflower, but this should be easy enough," Rudy smirked to himself. "Do not worry, my precious party! I, Rundelhaus Kode, will master these Overskills in no time!"
"I like the enthusiasm," Emiya smiled. "Of course, you're free to take as many breaks as you need. This is technically an extracurricular class, so you're not required to take it, but…"
He looked around, first at the students and then at the teachers. Somehow, Tohya could feel that he was more solemn than usual.
"... You're all aware that adventurers are also people," he said. "There are both good and bad people."
Once more, that guild flashed through his mind.
"These people will also have probably played Elder Tale enough to know the ins and outs of every skill," he grimaced. "Having an Overskill in case of encounters with such people, as an ace-in-a-hole, is not necessarily a bad thing."
Emiya took a deep breath and smiled.
"So, who'd like to get started?"
Tohya leaped onto his feet and got himself ready amidst the excited chatter. Others followed swiftly after, with a few more dragging their friends off with them to a sequestered part of the clearing. A few teachers had even approached Emiya to ask for clarifications.
After all, he promised himself he wouldn't be weak anymore.
"In Akihabara!?" Shiroe widened his eyes.
How? When!? Was he truly so focused on establishing the Round Table that he completely missed something like that? True, he had little experience when it came to magic – something he planned to rectify soon – but he didn't think he'd be so inept to not notice something as grand as a World-class spell!
… Or maybe it wasn't unreasonable to miss it? After all, the Landers had described the adventurers' sudden change into consciousness and personality to be instantaneous and equally as sudden. Would it not be fair to say that such a spell was only detectable through the use of very specific equipment?
But then… what kind of magic would it be?
"... it appears your current company knows of it."
What?
Shiroe blinked as he suddenly noticed the Emiya Family members narrowing their eyes. The atmosphere, almost at a drop of a hat, had turned extremely hostile. Shiroe had been in toxic raid groups before, but he was almost certain– no, definitely certain that this was much worse.
He could feel the killing intent in the air.
What in the world was going on?
Akatsuki tentatively took out her daggers, but with how cramped and haphazard the flooring of the library was…
"Ah, perhaps I said something that I shouldn't have?" The Sage ended up rubbing his chin. "What a pickle. It appears discussions have turned in an unpleasant direction. Is there a way for me to rectify the situation? I'd very much like to continue the–"
"You could start by explaining what you know."
"So just continue from where I stopped? Understood," he smiled. "All I know of this magic is that it used an amount of magical energy that should theoretically be impossible to muster. Even if the spell might've been used for whatever innocuous reason, such a surge of magical energy would inevitably be sensed by those knowing what to look for. For one such as I, who was following his master's instructions to learn more about the World-class spell World Fraction, it was child's play! However, I will admit to being extremely excited at realizing that a new spell was discovered."
Shiroe glanced at his present company once more.
Magical energy that should be impossible to muster? What did that mean? Was it a gargantuan amount? What did it mean to be theoretically impossible?
"... And what led you to believe that we'd know more about it?" Illya continued to ask. However, Shiroe couldn't help but sense a little… frustration? He couldn't recall hearing such emotion from her before. Perhaps in small doses, but not like now, where she seemed on the verge of a furious assault. "Surely the great Sage of Miral Lake isn't one to make baseless claims–"
"The energy that the magic left behind has a unique signature to it," Regan continued. "It lingers on you and your companions, almost as if you were affected by it, or if not, then merely nearby. It truly is astounding. The energy feels foreign as if it shouldn't exist in Theldesia, but yet here it is, though lingering as it may be. However, the most abundant source of it came from that knight you sent. He was practically bathed in it."
The quest giver? If memory served Shiroe correctly, he had always looked like a bearded old man… but now that he thought deeper on it, Shiroe realized that he had been neglecting a detail. That knight should've been see-through, with his skull and bones visible through even his withered and battered armor.
It was still withered and battered but seemed to glisten and shine. No longer were his innards visible through his being, but instead rippled as if he was never dead in the first place. The only thing that remained ghastly about him was the fact he still had no legs.
Shiroe mistakenly attributed the change to a mere adaptation, that Elder Tale's graphics couldn't portray what Krentelfal, the quest giver, was supposed to look like.
This oversight was his mistake.
He looked to his companions… though, he wasn't sure if they thought of him the same way.
… it appeared he had made even more oversights.
"There's no hiding it, Illya," Rin frowned as she played with a Gem in her hands. "The one thing I can confirm, unfortunately, is that an adventurer's body is highly resistant to mental manipulation. We can't even hide this if we tried."
Mental what?
"A shame," Illyasviel frowned. "I had hoped to keep that trump card hidden a little longer… or rather, hidden completely forever."
Shiroe looked back at ConquerorsAdvisor, only to notice that he had merely sighed and was rubbing his eyelids.
"... Einzbern. We've already broken Clocktower protocol when it comes to the uninitiated with that Lander girl," he said as he looked towards Tohsaka. "While Lady Tohsaka's decision at that point was reprehensible… there isn't exactly a force here to truly reprimand us. So long as we do not return, that is."
Return? Reprimand?
"Are you alright with it, Lord El-Melloi II?" Tohsaka asked. There it was again. Illya had mentioned the title earlier tonight, but Shiroe merely thought it was some sort of nickname or something. "I was under the impression you still had lingering hopes of returning. If you would voluntarily break the Clocktower's laws…"
… Was it not simply a nickname?
"I've probably been replaced already," ConquerorsAdvisor muttered– or perhaps it was Lord El-Melloi II? "It is much safer to remain here, for both me and my students."
"Such self-sacrifice is unbecoming of a Lord," Illya snorted. "But fine. Keeping up the secrecy was starting to be more trouble than it was worth."
"We're already at a much higher level than when we first started," Tohsaka reminded. "We kept it hidden to keep attention away from us so that we can be safe. Now that we're arguably much stronger… perhaps it's unnecessary."
"Perhaps it is," Illya nodded. "Fine. Overskills are a thing now anyway, so we can always just use that as a wall if we need to, just in case other players get too curious."
Tohsaka huffed. "Other players like your Tea Party strategist over here?"
At being the center of attention once again, Shiroe prevented himself from squirming.
"... I'd ask that you pay me no mind and carry on with your private guild matter," Shiroe weakly started. "However, I see that you intend to include me in whatever private matter this is."
"There's no need to be cordial," Illya sighed with her shoulders sagging. "Since you're smart, I'm sure you've already gotten an idea about what exactly this private matter we're speaking about actually is."
…
"I do," Shiroe nodded.
And it was an absurd idea, one too fantastical to be true…
Considering everything he had heard – this talk of secrets, a nickname that their Enchanter held seemingly bearing more resemblance to a title, a Clocktower of some sort, a protocol that they had seemingly broken, a magical research paper that eclipsed the knowledge that all others seemed to have, and to top it all off… the seemingly magical loopholes they've found in regards to Theldesia's phenomena.
… but after eliminating all that which is impossible, that which remains, no matter how improbable, is likely…
Shiroe closed his eyes and breathed.
"... Magic was real back in our world, wasn't it?"
"It was," Illya said.
"It was known more as magecraft. Phenomena that can be enacted through the use of magical energy to replicate what can be achieved by human action," Lord El-Melloi II supplemented. "Though, that isn't to say that Magic itself doesn't exist. We simply call that which cannot be achieved by human hands as such."
Right, right, that made sense– but it shouldn't!
Shiroe felt the need to sit down. Luckily, the books seemed comfortable enough, even if his current position wasn't as dignified as his peers.
… Were they even his peers?
"So it appears our worlds share more than I first thought," Regan smiled. "How fascinating. What purpose is there in keeping magic secret in your world, or magecraft as you call it?"
"I'd like to know that too," Shiroe asked. He failed to hide the tremble in his tone. He failed even further when he realized Akatsuki was trying to comfort him with a head pat… How embarrassing!
But could he be blamed? It was like a rug was pulled out from under where he was standing! His worldview, much like back when he first arrived in Elder Tale, had been utterly manhandled and chucked out the window.
"Preservation, mostly," Lord El-Melloi II explained. "Unlike in this world, in ours, when magecraft is learned, that particular craft's efficacy is lessened. This effect replicates itself the more people learn of it. If two people learn of it, then it is half as strong. Four people, a quarter. This created the need to conceal and veil the magecraft, and eventually, its existence altogether."
"So it is a dying art?" Regan asked. "Have preservation efforts not been made? Why not reach out to a governing body for protection or mitigation?"
"Because all magi are self-serving by their very nature," Lord El-Melloi II frowned. "If it doesn't align with their own goals, then there's no point. Things like for the greater betterment of magecraft or of magi in general, such is not the norm. Rather, magi tend to revel in the exact opposite of altruism."
"Whether it be murder or experimentation, magi do not see morality as a compass to follow," Illyasviel said. "The magical side of our world, the Moonlit world… it is not a kind place. It would chew and spit you out alongside your family and friends, especially if it would benefit their research."
Shiroe winced. "That is…"
"... That is not as exciting as I thought it would be," Regan muttered. "I assume that the penalties for revealing magecraft to the wider public are quite severe as a result?"
"Less severe and more a target for an immediate Sealing Designation," Lord El-Melloi II explained. "Should the sanctity of magecraft's secrecy be threatened, those that threaten it – be they man, women, or child – will either be killed or turned into a guinea pig for some other's research."
This is insane…
Shiroe wallowed as he absorbed the information.
He had assumed wrongly. He had likened these people to the yakuza of Japan, or a crime syndicate that had experience in the darker side of negotiations. Something similar to that grounded in reality– his perceived reality, but as it turns out, his reality was harsher than it first seemed.
"But if that's true… why bother telling us?" Shiroe frowned. "In your own words, risking the secrecy will only put a target on your back. Would you not be at risk should you return?"
Unless…
"Fortunately, we don't plan on that," Tohsaka said. "As we are, even if we did return, the Mages Association would want to know how we've ended up in bodies that seem to defy the common Human Order. As such, we will become guinea pigs whether we like it or not. Even if we returned in our original bodies, with barely a second passing in reality… there will be others who will follow. They will not be as discreet as we would be. Eventually, every single player of Elder Tale would be put under suspicion, or be a point of interest for research."
Shiroe shivered.
It was worse than he thought.
Far worse.
"Rather, I'm surprised that you're choosing to believe us at face value," Illyasviel raised a brow. "I expected some part of you to reject it altogether and call us insane, or even call us liars."
"I would have. I could have… some part of me wishes that I should have," Shiroe found himself muttering. "However, as unfortunate as it is, my rational mind takes over when I'm stressed. It's simply telling me that what I am hearing is the truth. I've tried other possibilities, but they were just too unlikely…"
… Whatever remains must be the truth.
Oh, how he hated that line. It was at this moment in his life that he hated that line more than he could ever think possible.
"My lord," Akatsuki whispered, uncertainty trickling into her tone. "Does this mean… we cannot return home? Even if we find a way?"
Shiroe opened his mouth but found himself closing it shortly after.
He couldn't find an answer.
He racked his mind over and over, taking in all that he had learned tonight and throughout his entire life… and yet, nothing was coming to him.
For crying out loud! He just played a game! He spent his days locked in his room glued to his computer playing a blasted MMO to pass the time! He got good enough to lead others within that game, coordinate large-scale raids, and discover a way to victory from the slightest possibilities! And yet…!
He was just that. A gamer that everyone put so much stock in that they often forgot that he was simply that.
He might be the Villain-in-Glasses, but that was just a title, given to him by a community of a role-playing game. People got lost in the fantasy that he was some sort of larger-than-life figure, someone that could only fit within the confines of storybooks of old… but he was human.
He had his limits.
Finding a way to take on what amounted to an immoral sociopathic Illuminati?
He couldn't do it.
This was… this was simply out of his depth.
"..."
Even now, he couldn't tell her anything. Not to Akatuki, who still believed in him. He didn't have it in him to betray her expectations of him– not even the expectations of his guild, or those of the players that truly wanted to go home.
"... There is a theoretical way."
Illya couldn't hold back the slight sigh.
Rin looked to the slightly despondent strategist of the Debauchery Tea Party as she continued, urged by an unspoken prompt.
"In our world, there's something known as the Kaleidoscope. It's also known as the Second True Magic," Rin explained. Might as well, right? They're already neck-deep in betraying everything that Clocktower stood for. "It's also known as the Operation of Parallel Worlds. Its user can theoretically send all of us back home, and with his reputation as Wizard Marshal, could nullify any attempts by the Clocktower to find any Elder Tale player… but you'll still have the few reckless idiots trying to do so."
"So even with such a power, it could only mitigate it…?" Shiroe muttered. "That isn't a perfect solution."
"Not yet it isn't," Rin amended. "It's still a solution. It can be improved upon down the line."
"But the point I believe Lady Tohsaka is trying to make is that you don't have to think of an answer for that right now," Lord El-Melloi II said. "Rather, I do not think you should place such a heavy burden on yourself. While we have given up on returning to our world… it doesn't mean that we would outright reject aiding you."
Illya, for once, found herself nodding along.
"You've helped bring about a reality that I could never think of," Illya complemented. "Rather, it wasn't within my personality to even think of it. There will be things you haven't thought of, and we will be there to return the favor."
The look in Shiroe's eyes showed that he was still skeptical, but Illya could feel trace amounts of hope in them.
Why was she even bothering to do this?
Her mind flashed back to her family, and the life they had been living this past week.
Right, she said it to herself, didn't she? Returning the favor.
"Do you know what that second World-class spell you detected was, Regan?" Illya asked. She straightened her posture, ignoring the ache in her head as she did so. "In our world, it was known as the Third True Magic. Heaven's Feel, the materialization of the soul. It is magic that enables true immortality– though that isn't saying much considering what adventurers are, but superior in the fact that it prevents the soul from deteriorating and returning to Akasha, the origin of all things. In simplistic terms, it is analogous to true perpetual motion, something unachievable by human hands. In other words, it is unlimited magical energy."
"Fascinating…!" Regan clutched his fingertips together. "And you have access to such a power? Such a thing would quite literally make you a living god!"
"Unfortunately not," Illya said. "At least, not in its entirety. Whatever powers this adventurer body, the menu, and its systems have… it cannot perfectly replicate it. I doubt it even could. The only aspect of it that it managed to make into a skill is the infinite energy, but I cannot draw it out myself."
And it was frustrating. The accumulation of all that the Einzbern have worked to achieve… well, maybe she felt some pleasure at denying old Acht his dream, but at the same time, it was still a deep-rooted desire down to her core.
"Krentelfal, the ghost, has been the only one capable of drawing out the magical energy so far," Illya explained. "I have little doubt that an Enchanter with a certain mana-sharing spell could achieve something similar."
Shiroe's eyes perked up… as did Lord El-Melloi II's.
"Whether or not this small facet of the Third Magic can help you, Shiroe, I do not know," Illya stated. "However, I am willing to let you use it whenever you require it. You have proven to be noble enough for that. If you truly want to find a way to get back home, then you'll need all the magical energy you can get. Don't you think so?"
Again, it wasn't clear cut. It wasn't a solution. Hell, it wasn't even an improvement to his plight… but it was an offer to help.
Sometimes, that's all people need.
Sometimes, Illya wished, before the Holy Grail War had gone into full swing, that someone else would have done the same for her.
"… Then I suppose I will have to impose on your goodwill. Akatsuki, I cannot answer that. Not yet, at least," Shiroe ended up stating as his assassin nodded in what looked like understanding. Though, he seemed slightly tired. Shirou turned to the Sage of Miral Lake and smiled sadly. "Forgive us for this tangent. I hope we haven't offended you."
"On the contrary, this was enlightening," Regan smiled back. "I wanted to get into the history of the Luqenje… but it appears that will have to wait. Might I suppose we take a breather for but a few moments? I can use that time to… search for where I left those potions."
"No issues here," Rin nodded as she held up her empty cup and sent Shiroe a sad glance. "Also, you were right about being unable to get drunk. While it is a good thing… it's certainly lacking something."
"I didn't know you wanted to be drunk that badly," Illya raised a brow.
"I didn't, but after what just happened? I do now."
And so, Regan went into the history of the world.
He told of their hatred against those that toppled the society of Alvs, of the Luqenje's rise to power, of their great curse on the land. Three hundred years ago, the first enactment of World Fraction, led to the summoning and birth of demi-humans. Goblins, monsters, and all sorts of similar creatures arose and slaughtered the inhabitants to the point that their once great nations were reduced to nothing but shadows of their former selves.
He told of the Luqenje's eventual defeat, but even then it would be a pyrrhic victory. The following creation of new races, utilizing the lost Alven arts – Felinoids like Nyanta, Wolf-Fangs like Illya, Ritian's like Rin, and Foxtails like Sakura. The Ancients had also risen at that time, though how Regan knew of that and not any of the academia… Illya was starting to realize that the knowledge that Regan was spouting wasn't as common as he made it sound.
These were secrets of the world that lay hidden, but recorded, in this library's hidden yet vaunted halls.
"So souls are used in the reformation process of both demi-humans and adventurers…" Rin muttered. "Spirit Theory, was it? An interesting analysis. I assume you've gone through the effort of verifying your claims?"
"Verily!" Regan smiled. "It was one of my master's priorities. He also said that I must strive to prove it to myself, which I have done so over the past few years. However, that is not the point. Over and over, like a broken clock, demi-humans would not die. They kept returning despite the tenacity that mankind and their brethren had shown."
The respawning of monsters for each zone… Illya thought that was normal, but she supposed in a world where that was common, it would lead to major problems. How had it resolved again?
Ah, players. Right.
"So the second use of World Fraction must've been to summon the adventurers," Rin nodded before snorting. "No wonder we can't die. We're the same as those monsters. The only difference is that they don't need a cathedral to be revived at. Dungeons and zones serve that purpose to these demihumans perfectly well."
"Clever!" Regan smiled. "But that is not the only reason… no, not all of it. For you see, the biggest vital difference is your capacity to grow. While weak as any Lander at the start, an adventurer is capable of becoming strong enough to topple that which might be mislabeled as gods."
"Isn't that a frightening picture?" Lord El-Melloi II frowned. "And it is a no-brainer to assume that the third use of the World Fraction spell was to manifest our consciousness here, in Theldesia."
"Once again, correct!" Regan smiled before sending Shiroe a glance. "Dear Archmage, dare I say it, but your companions are outshining you~!"
"Archmage…?" Shiroe laughed warily. "I don't think that's my class though…?"
"Now why would dear old Shiroe be an archmage?" Illya rolled her eyes.
"Well, his name first appeared in our history books ninety-eight years ago. Just by that length of time alone, he is fully qualified to be one."
"Wait, that's the first I'm hearing of this– Akatsuki? Don't look at me like that. I'm not an old man…" Shiroe trailed off. "... It lines up. Two hundred years ago. If we scale that to when Elder Tale was first released…"
"A time dilation…?" Lord El-Melloi II caught on. "I see… so the months we've been here might've amounted to a day passing in our world, a week at worst."
"Now isn't that a thought?" Rin mused. "While that's interesting and all, can I get more clarification on that Spirit Theory?"
"Yes, actually," Illya chose to assert. "It sounds exactly like what I originally wanted to know about."
And just in time too. Illya could feel her head starting to throb again. Damn thing.
"Very well. It is what you wanted, and I've already given sufficient background for it to be smoothly understood," Regan smiled. "Spirit. It is the mystical energy that animates all living beings. This spirit is comprised of two things. Psyche and Anima. Psyche animates the mind and also allows the use of magic, otherwise known as MP. Magic Points. Anima, on the other hand, animates the body. HP, or Hit Points. It is also the energy known as Ki."
Illya nearly spit-take.
Our stats!?
"When someone is defeated in battle, they can no longer move. However, the mind remains active," he continued. "However, Anima and Psyche are split in the process, and the mind is trapped in darkness. This is because the information from the body that flows into the mind, when the flow is cut off, no longer receives light. Hence vision darkening. Then finally, the process known as Anima Dispersal begins. Resurrection magic used on corpses in this state can fully recover, gathering the scattered Psyche and reinserting it into the Anima. This process is done backward, with all the necessary information of the mind being found in the corpse or the body. The healer, in turn, provides for the missing energy. Do you follow?"
It was remarkably simple.
Illya, with her background history of the soul being a part of the Third Magic, easily grasped the concepts of Spirit Theory. She'd probably be unable to even call herself an Einzbern if she couldn't.
"However, even when a full recovery is made, some Psyche is lost. This is why EXP is lost during death for an adventurer," Regan continued. "You could say that this loss or degradation in information is inevitable."
"Sorta like dementia," Rin muttered.
"Naturally, at the point where resurrection cannot be applied on time, the body disperses. This is where Landers would be considered dead," Regan explained. "Before that critical point? Resurrection magic will still be possible. For adventurers… the dispersed particles, once it realizes there is no longer a body to return to, will rejoin at a cathedral. A predetermined location for adventurers to reform. As Magi Tohsaka has said… though I probably shouldn't call her by that considering what kind of people magi are in your world… it is entirely similar to how demi-humans revive at dungeons or zones."
"Would that not imply the existence of memories for demi-humans?" Shiroe asked. "If that is true, why do they not recognize us? Or flee in fear once they recognize adventurers are a greater threat after being slain time and time again?"
"There's a chance that they do not retain those memories," Rin stated. She needed no clarification, already convinced of the answer.
"That, we do not know. Though, evidence points towards such a suggestion," Regan sighed. "Even after countless years of research, my master and I were never able to find the truth. Consciousness, personality, and even memories are stored in the Psyche. However, memories are also stored in the Anima, the physical body that houses the brain."
Illya frowned.
The degradation of the soul… The very thing that the Third Magic, Heaven's Feel, was able to conquer.
"Memories are likely either damaged or lost after this death process," Regan announced. "Demi-human memories might've been warped themselves, or damaged to the point that there is nothing salvageable. It is also possible that they may not realize their memories are their own. Quite simply, I do not yet know. However, it is possible to learn the truth."
"Through the use of Heaven's Feel, correct?" Illya frowned. "I might've offered my aid to Shiroe, but the same does not necessarily apply to you, Sage."
"Merely a suggestion," Regan smiled. "I am most satisfied with the findings that my teacher and I have wrought. While additional material would be nice, it is not necessary. Instead, I thank you all for being such welcome listeners. I trust this information I've given you has helped you learn more about what you wanted?"
That's true.
Illya learned what she wanted. The origin of adventurers, birthed by World Fraction. The functionality of an adventurer's body, through Spirit Theory.
However…
"Is there nothing about Spirit Theory that could explain sudden indescribable headaches?" Illya winced at the throbbing jab. "As much as it embarrasses me to admit… these headaches are the driving factor of my presence here."
"Headaches…?" Regan frowned. "Odd. That hasn't been a concern for any of my observational subjects. Even after death, most adventurers seem fine."
"I haven't died yet," Illya amended. "That's the troubling part."
"Perhaps your magic has something to do with it?" Shiroe pointed out.
"On the contrary, that magic should be helping her," Lord El-Melloi II denied with a slight look of confusion. "If such pain was caused by internal degradation, then Heaven's Feel should be preventing it."
Well, it sure as hell didn't feel like it!
"Perhaps some tea might soothe your mind?" Regan muttered as he offered one of his… bloody… broken… old… teacups!
Illya would later admit to feeling just a bit irritated. Just a bit. Just a teeny tiny bit as she shattered the teacup in her grasp.
Hmm… that felt nice. Maybe it did help?
"Hmm," Regan muttered. "This aggression… Ah. So that's what it is."
"You know something?"
"Indeed," if Illya was of right mind, she would've applauded the sage in being utterly calm in the face of an adventurer, who as it happened, wasn't in her right mind. "You are one of those berserkers, are you not? Have you had your weekly brawl yet? If you don't blow off that steam, it'll start getting to you, you know."
…
What.
"What?"
"Yes, it's well-documented," Regan nodded to himself. "Or perhaps it is only well-documented for me? I haven't released that particular finding to the academic guild yet… but I'm not sure if I will. Perhaps when they replace that head of theirs? I don't think he fancies a good old potion."
Illya twitched.
"... So you mean to tell me, that these current headaches of mine, haven't been the result of my body rejecting my soul or anything complicated like that?" Illya slowly stated. "But instead… it's because I haven't been violent enough lately?"
"Yes, that's precisely it," he said. "Though, slaying demi-humans will yield a better result than a mere spar or something similar. With your current symptoms… Oh dear, you'll want to throw yourself at an army before noticing any real comfort. Good luck with that."
Illya took a deep breath.
"THIS FUCKING BULLSHIT WORLD!"
"Hey!" Rin frowned. "Language!"
"SHUT IT, YOU TSUNDERE!"
"WHAT'D YOU SAY, YOU MIDGET!?"
"Should we not be noting the implications of that…?" Shiroe muttered. At the two ladies' continual argument, he sighed. "Or… perhaps later."
Lord El-Melloi II sighed.
"You'll get used to it."
"My lord," Akatsuki shivered as the two started grabbing at each other's hair. "These two are frightening."
Rain and mud covered the wetlands.
It was a large and wide low-leveled area, but it was also the shortest path towards their destination. The nearest town was there, and Isaac wasn't going to be camping out in this weather– not again.
A nice comfy bed – or barn he wasn't picky – would easily let him relax and prepare…. Or give him as much rest as he could get until those Brigandia bastards showed themselves again.
"Seriously, where did they go…?" Isaac muttered from atop his horse. "This isn't right."
"Are we sure that pushing this far into their territory would be wise?" Don Masdy, his Vice Commander, whispered by his side.
"Those bastards don't own anything in Eastal!" Isaac snorted. "No, we have enough justification to say that we're repelling potential invaders. So long as we don't cross the border, I doubt they'll give us any real trouble."
"By they, do you mean Brigandia or the Nobles?"
"Both," Isaac grumbled. "More importantly, have the scouts gotten word of anything?"
Don Masdy put his hands to his ears, as a show that he was using verbal friend chat, and shook his head. "The scouting regiment Assassins haven't seen or heard a whisper. The rain also washed the scent away, so none of the Druid summoned beasts have been able to get a lock on them."
"Slippery bastards," Isaac frowned. "But does that mean we can rest at the town ahead without worry?"
"They may be worried about our numbers," Don Masdy frowned. "However, we can appeal to their better nature or try to bribe them. It should be enough unless we offend the locals."
"Then we'll have to avoid that…" Isaac frowned. Rather, he'd have to avoid that. "I can't get them out of my mind. Why are they retreating after pushing this far in with all of their scouts? Did they already find what they wanted or something?"
"We should probably assume that that is the case," his vice commander noted. "However, if that is the case… then we'll have to prepare for the worst."
"This shit's way too stressful…" he muttered. "Why'd I agree to join the Round Table again?"
"Who knows?" Don Masdy shrugged. "Perhaps it is because you do not like being left out?"
"Who said that!?"
"Everyone in our guild, probably."
"Jackasses," Isaac frowned before looking back at the adventurers following behind them on their own mounts. "... with these numbers… retreat will be difficult. Especially if that happens."
"We are close to the falls…" Don Masdy noted. "Only a day away until we arrive at where the Goblin King is set to awaken. Perhaps we should retreat before he does?"
"Like hell! We're not going to lose to some pansy goblins," Isaac frowned. "But… I'll need to contact glasses about that first. I need to know if I'll be stepping on some fucking noble's invisible toes."
Seriously. He absolutely hated this bureaucratic bullshit.
"At the very least, we'll be stationed to protect the town if the goblins do arrive early," his vice commander smiled. "Atonement is hard, isn't it?"
"No idea what you're talking about."
"I'm sure you don't, sir."
A/N: And that's a wrap at 13k words. It's a longer chapter than usual, but not the longest this fic has. That honor still belongs to the `Two Meetings` chapter with 20k words.
Seriously, I got gangbanged with updates when I was writing this chapter. New Lostbelt in FGO (got Kriemhild Pog), the Chasm was released in Genshin (failed Yelan Sadge), my birthday (June 8, so yesterday), and a new semester that I have to look into.
Oh yeah, need to clear up that misunderstanding. I didn't graduate. My brother did, but I have like 5 subjects to finish so I'm technically almost there. I'm looking to take all of them in one semester to minimize my parent's expenses. It feels like shit to have your peers graduate before you, but some teachers tell me that they've had friends go ten years through college before passing. Not sure if that's just lip service, but I'll take some solace in it.
I'm also considering starting on making a game with my brother and friends, but it's still in the fledgling stages. Not sure if I'll actually go through with it, but I need something to put on my CV. Maybe that'll work? Eh, I'll get to it when I get to it.
More importantly, TVTropes.
Yeah, somehow Bladed Horizon has one. However, it's pretty much empty save for like 3 entrees and a defunct entry about Adult Fear. Idk, it somehow sprung into existence a month or two ago but hasn't been touched in the last few weeks. I want to try to change that by putting some spotlight on it. Who knows? Maybe it'll actually get filled in the coming weeks? Hopefully.
Now it's back to job hunting (while doing college).
Until next time,
Kappa
