(Continued from Chapter 3)
"I was actually hoping that out of all the ones you would find, it wouldn't be THAT one of all. It was sporadic, rude, and just a bit too much blood in it." He looked old, older than he seemed, though they were both supposed to be just 16 years old.
Too old for their times, both Shirou and Zelhirou have seen too much. Though Shirou had lost a majority of his existence; having a hazy memory of that day while the rest were erased. Zelhirou...he wasn't that lucky. He laughed bitterly and closed the book roughly, his hands falling to his lap as golden eyes looked down.
"I made a lot of mistakes when I first got the ability to access the Kaleidoscope back when I was around 14. I thought that I would be able to change something about the fates of those affected by the Holy Grail War, but due to my influence- so many more people died and...I was turned into THIS." He laughed again, gripping tightly onto his right arm that was almost completely tan.
"I decided to smile and smile and laugh away the pain. Be like a certain Skeleton ya know? Though there's a major difference between jumping from different universes from different timelines- there is no second chance when it comes to that dimension. Once a part of what made that universe tic changes, the entire thing goes with it and in some cases, a poor sap that happened to be born a Kresnik has to come by and destroy the Divergent Catalyst: The core difference of that universe."
"How many times have I seen HIM kill a version of you just so HE can cancel out his own existence?"
"How many times have I seen a version of us die a martyr and become the next Ruler-classed Servant?"
"How many times have I seen time go back like it's Groundhog Day or Termina or stuck in the Haze because once the third day passes, it starts all over again because of the tainted Holy Grail?!" He was breathing hardly at this point, shaking and looking down at the sheets on the bed rather than at Shirou.
"I'm nothing more than a pathetic amalgamation of a Counter Guardian and Magus. There are times I even question if I'm still 'Shirou' or just some person who has become nameless like one of the Moon Cell." The expression on his face had a smile on it, but it was unfeeling and pitiful- like nothing more than a failed replication. "Hey, Shirou...am I just a fake?"
Shirou, he was shocked for a moment, unable to find the words to say. Behind that smile, that zany demeanor was a sad and broken Shirou Emiya...Zeltrech. All he wanted to do was help, but things didn't work out in that fashion. And yet somehow he didn't lose hope, he didn't become a nihilist bent on just sitting to the side or try to destroy everything on that path.
Zelhirou didn't want to become a Hero of Justice to save everyone, he wanted to become a Hero to save Himself.
Yellow eyes gazed at dulled, molten gold as his hands came up and grabbed Zelhirou's hakama, pulling him down into the mockery of a tight hug. Shirou was never the one to initiate them, so in a way it was out of character in a sense.
"You're not. Even if you went down another path and act totally different, you'll always be Shirou. There's no such thing as just a fake, and I can't magically say that everything will be alright since that would be a lie, but...like with everything it takes time, determination, and a lot of patience. So, take your time Zelhirou. A rushed job isn't always a good job." Shirou slowly rubbed his back while holding onto the taller redhead. He didn't know if it got through to his head, but...
"No matter what, I'm still me, huh...heh. heh heh heh. Heh...he..." He didn't say anything as his shirt became wet with tears nor the shaking coming from the bigger body. Shirou just simply held on, an anchor to the both of them.
"Does...does that mean I'd still be Shirou even if I fought in a giant robot against the Galra?"
"I don't think that counts if your nickname IS Shirō."
"Boo, shooting me down so quickly- how mean..."
Xx-Determination-xX
Diary Entry #4: Zelhirou the Liar
Today I learned a lot about Zelhirou from both his journal, but also from himself. He has seen so much, learned so much, but in the end couldn't piece everything together because he was looking through rose-colored glasses. He knew the danger and how to combat it physically, but not from a emotional standpoint. I think that from this, he'll learn how to talk more and work harder so that he can't say 'This is just it with the world' while travelling through the Kaleidoscope. Hopefully, he can genuinely smile instead of having a forced one.
Xx-Determination-xX
And with that, Shirou and Zelhirou's introduction arc is finished! I was going to stretch it out a bit longer, but I think 4 chapters is more than enough. Also viva references, cause there were a lot of them in there- I even spelt one out by just saying smile and Skeleton.
In the next chapter will be unlocking Shirou's magic circuits and possibly, a part of the Kaleidoscope itself? Well, you'll have to see for yourself! As always, thanks for reading and I hope to see you in the next chapter.
