Trial by Blades: Chapter 5
Shirou was shocked by the completely absurd question that came from the girl in front of him. The messaged echoed in his mind yet he could not understand why this girl that even tried to murder him for not as long as a day is now asking him to be her pseudo-classmate in studying magecraft. With the still dumbfounded feeling that he had he can only answer with a "What?"
"What do you mean by what?" Rin is pushing the question even further, appearing to not accept an objection."From what I've seen you are still a very big novice at magecraft Emiya-kun, shouldn't you be glad that a better mage like me is reaching out to someone like you?"
Recomposing himself, Shirou analysed Tohsaka's words and replied."If you do say that I'm a novice then what is the reason that you want to study magecraft with me even when you blatantly tried to kill me in less than a day."
Tohsaka blushed at hearing the boy's statement and thought that she actually had no reason to have that kind of relationship with him, she thought that he was suspecting her of ulterior motives again. Wait that's right she was indebted to him.
"W-well my reason is that I'm indebted to you."
Shirou saw the girl mumble something but he could not hear it,"Tohsaka can you say that a bit louder?"
Tohsaka held back at trying to hurt the guy she is now indebted to. She just replied while smiling scarily,"I said I am doing this because I am indebted to you Emiya-kun. So what's your answer?"
The redhead gulped at the ominous statement coming out from the mouth of the person that was requesting him to be her peer in learning magic. He could feel the horrors that would happen to him if he did not accept, and so the boy submitted to Rin.
"Good."Rin clapped her hands together looking like someone who has reached a conclusion when thinking about something. Shirou gave a sigh and the two headed to the Emiya's home not as classmates but as mages.
Meanwhile at London, England. At an underground facility inside the place known as The Clocktower Zelretch is talking to a bearded man.
"It's been a long time isn't it Sirius?"Zelretch is talking to Sirius McGinty the renowned mystic code crafter of the mages association.
"Don't give me that crap afta ya made me go through wit dis things Zel. Seriously what are ya plannin with these?"The crafter asked the wizard marshall about his intentions and so he got a reply he wasn't expecting at all.
"Don't spread it yet but I have a new student, the boy looks really promising but he's a pretty big novice so I still have a lot of things to teach him. As for these mystic codes you better not know of it yet."Zelretch chuckled, still looking forward to the day when he would flaunt an actually successful student that learned his magic at The Clocktower. Just a few years more.
"Ahh a student ya say? Hahahahah I'll surely wait for this boy's arrival here."Sirius gave a laugh and said goodbye to the wizard marshall as he left for their transaction is complete.
As Zelretch now headed to Fuyuki again the mage duo at the Emiya household are studying hand in hand.
"Are you sure this is safe Tohsaka?"Said the doubtful redhead to Rin.
"Yes, Yes it is safe, safe if you can control your prana properly."Rin replied to him with a smile again, how Emiya wished to refuse but anyone would be scared to go against this girl's monster's orders.
Trying to recall why he even ended up in this position Shirou reviewed what happened.
"So Emiya-kun shall we go to your house?"
"No."
And then he fainted and woke up at his house
"Good evening Emiya-kun, you suddenly fainted at school so I brought you to your house."Tohsaka now talking to him again but with a very ominous smile in her face."Now that you woke up can we study magecraft now?"
This girl is really unreasonable isn't she? Emiya Shirou said to himself, he has a feeling that he will faint again permanently if he does not agree again though. With the fear of death Emiya accepted the twin-tailed girl's proposal.
They went to the Household's shed which serves as Shirou's workshop, when they arrived Tohsaka did not stop her palm from going to her face, how is this even called a workshop anyway?
"I should not have expected more from what I saw from your skills"She sighed and continued talking again."Like seriously what kind of mage would leave these mundane stuff on their workshop?"And she continued rambling on about why Shirou's workshop looks like this to which the redhead gave a reply.
"Well my magecraft involves these objects if you have an objection well you can get out."Shirou gave a smug grin to twin-tailed girl. With an annoyed look Rin crossed her arms and replied with an annoyed look.
"Fair enough, you saw my magecraft too right?"
"The gems?"Shirou looked at the girl who looks like a teacher who's about to start a discussion.
"Right, my gems are part of my branch of specialties, anyway seeing how it works you can see that they have different discharges when I release them, you can relate the discharges to elements right? Every magi specializes in at least one element, so if we're gonna mutually help each other from now on would you tell me what's your element? Or perhaps... Seeing as how much of a novice you are you probably don't even know what it is.
"Nope, Tohsaka. For your information I actually know what my element is. But before that I don't think it's fair that you're the only one who knows what element I'm good at, you should tell me yours as well."
Tohsaka's eyebrow twitched at the boy's reply to her thinking,the Tohsaka talked to herself first."If I reveal my elemental affinity and Emiya-kun was lying I'd be in a pinch, worse when he actually has nothing special to compete against me. Wait I could tell a lie"
Tohsaka snapped out from stasis when Shirou was already waving his hand in front of her face. Kinda annoyed the Tohsaka replied in a stuttered pattern,"Okay, let's say it together then."
Shirou agreed to her condition and they counted to three and said their elements, with Shirou saying too early with "sword."
Tohsaka froze. What did he just say?"Emiya-kun can you repeat your element again?"
"What? I said my element is sword. Now say yours."
Tohsaka got annoyed. "Why of all people that this novice had to have a unique element?! Never mind I'll just say the truth, that way I won't even feel that I'm one bit inferior to this idiot."Speaking to herself again.
"Well I specialize in all of the basic elements or also known as an average one. So instead of having only a specific specialty on one element I'm good at all of the elements that you normally see like fire,wind, or water. I have more examples but I don't have obligation of telling them to you. But what is with your element though? I've never heard of anyone who has an element of sword."
Shirou scratched his head and also wondered while talking to the girl."I don't really know either but I also know that my element is rare thanks to my old teacher. But I have a new teacher now and he's out of town for now but he will return in a day or less."
"Wait you had someone to teach you but you're this bad?"Tohsaka pointed at his flaws to which the redhead gave a quick answer.
"Wait a minute Tohsaka, in the first place my teacher never wanted me to learn magecraft anyway and he probably did that to protect me and also because of the reason that he didn't really know what to teach me. Because the spells I can only do as of now thanks to him teaching me are reinforcement and structural grasping which are only two out of the four branches magecraft where I can only reach mastery at. While two of the left ones are, wait aren't I putting myself at a disadvantage if I say further?"
"Fine that's enough, but we may do tell each other more of our specialties in the future wait never mind what I said."Tohsaka's face reddened a little from what she almost said and then she thought and asked the boy again about where he learned projection.
"My projection? It's something I'm learning currently due to my teacher saying that I need to learn it and he's also the one who said that I can only master four branches of magecraft and only become average at other non-elemental affinity based spells like bounded fields and such. I can probably introduce you to him when he's back."
Tohsaka answered with an "Oh." and went back to thought. If this guy has a teacher that knew that much about him then the guy must at least be very good and she might learn something from him. And so she looked forward to meeting her new friend's teacher. Then she actually noticed something odd.
"By the way Emiya-kun can I see your family's crest"Rin looked at the fact at why does the boy she's speaking to be that much of a beginner so if her hunch was right then Emiya is.
"Crest? What's that?" Tohsaka's guess was proven and now she learned that her friend is an illegitimate mage.
"So that's why you're so bad, you were adopted right?"
"Uhh yes I was adopted, why are you asking this now though?
Tohsaka posed in a lecturing manner again and started talking."Let me start from the basics, a crest symbolizes the magic that your family specializes in, which is passed from generation to generation to improve it. In a way it also classifies you as the head of the family if you have the crest implanted into you. Only persons of blood relation can transplant their crests on each other and the best of the family's generation will inherit it. But the mage that do not have the family's crest can either be an inferior one from the current inheritor or an illegitimate one that is adopted to the family that's why your father probably cannot transplant it to you. Though there are exceptions from what I have heard like a special crest which anybody can inherit or a person who has the ability to transplant crests but with a risk but still has the ability to. However, they are held in custody by the Mages Association.
Shirou scratched his head with the ton of information that was being handed to him by his classmate. He actually did not know that magecraft goes as deep as making families have traditions."Hmm, does this info really matter though Tohsaka, from what you've deduced yes I was adopted but you also had to know that because of that reason I can't have a crest and even if I get someone who has the ability to do it I can't because my father is already dead."Shirou reminded the girl about the facts so they can now continue, and so they did.
"You're right we should not dwell on this topic further so let's continue. So from what you have said you have the ability to perform reinforcement, structural grasping, you also said that you'll definitely master these in the future so can you at least show me your current abilities in these branches since we're actually already here at what you can call your workshop."Tohsaka now instructing the boy to now pick up a rock.
"Right"Shirou followed the twin-tailed girl's instruction's and picked up the rock that she was pointing at and like she said, he started the process of structural grasping on it,"Trace, on."Shirou with his eyes closed, concentrating while the various information that made the rock is now flowing to his mind. Finishing up with saying "There." He put down the rock and lended his ear to what the Tohsaka was about to say.
"Too slow."And she started the first and foremost flaw with the redhead's magecraft."Judging from your element which is sword, I can guess that you are or probably will be a mage who will be specializing on combat. Considering that you somehow need to structurally grasp an object if needed in combat and it is that slow then don't blame someone else for your needed you at least need to have the ability to structurally grasp an object at sight and at a quick time, being fast will also apply to all your spells."
She's actually right, Shirou thought. Though he still does not understand why structural grasping is needed in combat. Then he remembered the event last night, the exact replica of the Torashinai which he projected. Being curious, he could not stop from telling Tohsaka this guessing that she knows about this.
"Tohsaka, do you remember the last thing that I projected last night?"
"Oh yeah, I forgot that you can also perform projection, how could I? It's completely what you used to beat me, now that you reminded me, yes I also meant to ask about it too. How did your projection go as far as having the curse projected with it? Also if you were wondering where it went I took it home with me by the way, returning to my point how did your projection copy the original that perfectly? And whose sword was that anyway? Never mind that question answer the first one before all."
"Actually I don't really know either, it's still a mystery to me, perhaps it's a new technique to projection or something, we should really ask my teacher when he gets home."
"Well let's move on to reinforcement, reinforce that chair over there."Tohsaka pointed at the chair located in the corner of the room, Shirou then went near it and now put his palm on top of it.
With a spark of prana emanating from his arm he let his prana flow into the chair carefully, no more no less. After the session he simply waited for Tohsaka's comment after she's finished examining the chair.
"This is actually pretty decent in my opinion, now all we need to know is how you seemed to completely replicate an object, that would make a huge advancement on the branch and will make me famous for discovering it and perhaps have half the credit from your teacher at the Clocktower in the future hehe hehehe."She grinned and laughed in a creepy manner not that long until she recomposed herself and said,"If your teacher is also a legitimate mage after all."
Shirou was confused by the girl's actions and so she asked her about what she was talking about.
"You seriously don't know about the Clocktower? Good grief Emiya-kun the measure of pity I have for you seriously can't be measured right now. Well to put it short, the Clocktower is the headquarters of the Mages Association which is located at London, England. Do you get it now?"
"Yes, yes I do, you can discuss about that for later, let's move on it's not like my father wanted me to get involved in the mage world anyway so don't judge me."
"Well, by the way Emiya-kun do you know that you can reinforce your own body?"Tohsaka posed in a lecturing manner again,"Reinforcement used in combat is mostly used this way or to strengthen a weapon or a mystic code."
"Oh, yes I was told that by my dad that reinforcement can also be used on your own body but it has risks like when you pour too less or too much prana it will take a toll at your body right?"
Rin nodded and replied,"Correct, and actually now with your level at prana flow, from my observation you can reinforce yourself correctly already with practice so let's try it."She pointed at the redhead again and now dictating him of his next action.
"Are you sure this is safe Tohsaka?"
And so the night passed.
Shirou woke up the next morning with bags under his eyes, remembering the sheer things last night that Tohsaka made him do, oh the pain, they really finished pretty late huh? He stretched his body, did his morning exercises again, took a bath and prepared the food casually. He continued his morning routine at least until he noticed that someone is ringing the doorbell at this time already.
"Hmm, Fuji-nee would just enter right away so who could the visitor be?"He mumbled as he closed-in on the household's entrance. Opening the door, he was surprised at the visitor's identity.
"Oh it was you all along Zelretch-jii-san, welcome home."The boy greeted his teacher and let him in taking over the task of carrying his luggage he went with him to the old man's room.
"Leave me here, I'll just sleep, we got something to do tonight so go home early. Also, do not touch the things I brought, or if you want to die then do it."As he finished talking the wizard marshall lied down, fast asleep. Shirou left him alone and followed his orders to not touch his luggage. Speaking about the things that he brought with him, there are seven cases of varying sizes and the eight one which the old man lifted himself was quite big too. Ignoring the objects he went and continued on what he was doing.
Taiga came in about a few minutes and they both ate together, with her leaving again as soon as she was finished again leaving the redhead alone again.
Shirou simply took a bath and went to school when he finished cleaning. On the way he met with Tohsaka, greeting her with a good morning.
"Oh, good morning Emiya-kun, let's go walk together"She now went at the same pace as Shirou and walked beside him and now started to talk again but in a silent manner."So, what happened this morning?"
"Nothing much, but oh yeah, my teacher arrived this morning, maybe I can introduce you to him tonight."The redhead told her this while they were walking and as he stated what Rin was waiting for, she started daydreaming of having an authentic mage teacher who can at least bear teaching someone like this novice and she hoped of replacing that fake priest that always makes fun of her. Daydreaming always proved to be dangerous and Tohsaka Rin learned this the hard way, and by the hard way, it's walking up to a lamp post.
"Oww"Rin shouted in anger as she rubbed her nose, seeming the place to have received the most injury. Shirou laughed at her, thus making her annoyed, resulting for a smack in the head earned by Shirou, they walked silently to school after.
Classes went pretty normal and the day went past quick, as Shirou walked home, he saw the familiar figure alone in the park again. He went near and said hello again, Sakura only noticed him when he greeted her looked quite shock to learned that he was there, she at least replied with,"Oh hello Emiya-senpai."She smiled at him and let him sit beside her.
"So how was your day Sakura?" He looked at the purple haired girl who looked really... empty by his standards, those eyes really looked familiar to him, the eyes of someone who is suffering. He made a resolve again, that if she is being bullied again, he would protect her, what's a hero of justice for, if you can't even protect an underclass-man."
She looked at him too and answered his question, having a small smile, thanking him for actually caring."Nothing much happened senpai, don't worry."She looked away after saying that, thinking to herself of something. After a few seconds she looked at him again with tearful eyes. Shirou did not mind this, of course everybody goes through sadness sometimes, he just has to be there to comfort them.
"Hey senpai, why did you save me back then?"She looked directly at him, her face showing signs of melancholy, she had to make sure, that she does not hope on a fleeting dream again."Didn't you think that you'll get hurt if you fight even though you were outnumbered, what drived you to save someone like me?"
Shirou was confused by the girl's words, as he sees, Sakura thinks so low of herself, guess it's his duty to cheer her friend up too."You know Sakura, five years ago, I was a victim of the incident that burned a large area of Fuyuki, the Fuyuki Fire. As I walked through there, smoke in my lungs and the sheer hotness of my surroundings, I heard people screaming for help, people cursing at me for not saving them, all of them happening while selfish me is walking through all of them, ignoring their pleads. I felt extreme guilt after all that, as such it made me have a mindset of helping every people in need as much as I can." He looked down as he explained the experience that made him who he is. Sakura listening carefully to every word he's saying. Every word that the boy said meant a lot to the broken girl, they made her long for salvation, her emotions bursting. The moment stopped when Sakura's tongue slipped and asked him a very conflicting question.
"Hey senpai, what would you do if saving a person required you to kill another?"The girl quickly covered her mouth after her statement and said sorry,"My tongue slipped."
"Don't worry about it, about your question though."The redhead placed his head on top of his knuckle and was immersed in thought again. He, he couldn't find it, the answer is not yet in arm's reach."You know Sakura that was a very good question, can you wait for the time when I can answer it?"The conflict in his mind and the question asked that he cannot answer. They all told him one thing, Sakura is in need of help. He looked at her again and said,"Can you also wait for the time when I can save you?"
Sakura's heart skipped a beat,"Am I dreaming?"She thought to herself, the boy's words made her happy, someone cared for her. But, she could not put him in danger, no one can save her, she could at least be happy that at least someone reached out to her. And that someone took her heart with him.
"Well Sakura it's getting late, I need to go home. Would you like to walk together?"He lent her a a hand and she grabbed it and they walked home while chatting.
Upon reaching Sakura's home the smile on her face did not go away, as they split up Sakura went inside the mansion looking empty again, as if the light was taken from her. And of course, Shirou did not know of the horrors that she's experiencing yet.
As the redhead walked home he was met by a girl in red, those twin-tails that represent her,"Ahh, I forgot that I'm introducing Tohsaka to Zelretch-jii-san." The boy said to himself as Rin approached him.
A/N:Very, very sorry for the delay of this chapter, I went somewhere where I didn't have internet access, yeah. :/
Oh, Thanks for Mr. Thirdfang for letting me borrow his OC which is Sirius whom Zelretch just had a chat with in London, fancy right. Sirius is from his work which is known as "From Fake Dreams." it's a f/sn fic too and it was one of my inspirations to write, so if you guys have time, read his works. Also, Sirius will not go beyond from that appearance, I just needed him for the things that Zelretch picked up at London. He sort of crafted them.
Thanks to my followers and the ones who give a review, tell me what you guys think about this chapter.
I'm sort of gonna be pretty busy in march so I can probably only upload two new chapters then, I'll still try to write as many as I can though.
PS Still need a beta, pm me if you guys want to ask something about this fic.
I don't own the fate franchise all dem rights go to Type-Moon.