Chapter 1: Pacis Vel Chaos?
"…Sampai…Sampai…Wake up…"
"Urgg…ten more minutes…"
"You have to wake up, Sampai. It's already time for you to wake up."
"Ok…Just get out of the room so I could change."
An immediate response.
"Ok." With that, the purple haired girl named Sakura walked out of the room, shutting the door behind her.
I get out of bed, fold up my futon, brush my teeth, change into school cloths and stretch for five minutes. My usual routine for five years. There was only one change to it.
"Good morning, Saber."
I called out to the soft lion plushy that was on top of my desk, looking at me as if it wants a hug. It was the only thing that Saber left behind, a precious memento that will always remind me of the Fifth Holy Grail War that happened a year ago.
The sunlight bursts though the curtains as I opened them, dancing throughout the room like a lively medley, and with that, went out of the room.
"Good morning, everyone."
"Hi."
"Good morning, Shirou."
"Morning, Oni-chan!"
Ilya, Fujimura-sensei and Rin sat around the table, hyper as ever, waiting for breakfast to be served. Sakura was cooking today as always and I sat down, gathering my focus to the television. Meanwhile, I was still absorbing all of these facts since one year could change people a lot.
Ilya von Einzbern. She turned out to be a child prodigy when she enrolled in Homurabura Gakuen, as the top of her class. Her fragile body, as a Homunculus, was held together by a series of magical potions that Rin had made during her trips to Europe. Now, she would have the lifespan of a normal human being. Recently, she told me that she was my stepsister, the daughter of Kiritsugu Emiya and Irisviel von Einzbern. This alone gave me hope that I was reunited with my 'family'. She's living in my house as her family acknowledged me as her current guardian, seeing that I had protected her many times.
Fujimura-sensei. She didn't change at all during this time. The only change that anybody would realize was that she finally got her driver's license. This, alone, gave her the additional nickname of 'Cheetah' among the school's staff and students. When you add her driving with her hyperactive attitude, you get plenty of chaos and a ticket. Plus the added detriment of having a scar in your mind for the rest of your life.
Rin and Sakura. They have resolved their differences and loved each other as sisters after the Holy Grail War ended ever since. Rin went back into her mansion after fixing it and has a better personality. She would go on trips to England or Asia, looking for sources of magical energy and ingredients for potions to increase her magical powers. It was also a surprise that Sakura was Rider's Master. Knowing that there was a Master cooking for me during the war and the fact that she would kill me anytime would send chills down my spine. Half a year after the war ended, she told me about her status and the magical…worms that were implanted inside her body along with the sexual abuse she had suffered as a 'side effect'. Luckily, Tosaka-san made a potion that droved the worms out from the same entryway that it had entered the body. Even today, I felt nauseous remembering the mess it made. I can't look in the toilet the same way again.
Looking at her smile right now, it's hard to believe that her pursuit of happiness landed in front of my door.
"Itadakimasu."
Today, the sky looked endlessly deep as the clouds flutter around, just minding their own business. The rice was tasty as usual, along with the perfectly fried eggs and onions.
"So, what are you going to do today?" Taiga asked the white-haired girl that was sitting across from her.
"Nothing, just looking for a club that I could join. Maybe chess." She replied with her mouth full. Something that Sakura disapproved.
"Ilya. Don't speak with your mouth full." She waved her chopsticks towards her direction.
"Ok." She swallowed all of her food with one gulp.
Everyday goes like this, more or less. We all eat around the table, talk for a few minutes and it all goes silent. Nevertheless, it was calming, the daily scene that unfolded in front of me.
"Gochisōsama." After putting the dishes in the sink, Sakura closed the doors and so, we walked up the streets and up the hill to the school where it overlooks the entire city, expanded with its shopping mall, universities along with technological companies occupying the offices around the central district. The sky is endlessly blue…
"Shirou…"
"Yes, Rin? What's the matter?" She gives the impression of being worried, with her hands on her head while we were walking up the hills, ignoring the usual stares.
"Well…you are coming home late today, right? Since it's that day…" she said while staring at the ground. My heart panged at those words.
"Yes. That's right. Sakura will cook dinner tonight and I'll come home late around nine. Make sure that Ilya goes to sleep after she eats dinner." My voice turned into monotone.
Yeah, it's today. Saber disappeared today and left me alone, along with everybody else. An empty void that will not be filled. In those fifteen days, I known her, cherished her, and loved her. This thought ran though my mind repeatedly as I was changing my shoes.
"Good morning, Emiya-kun."
"Ah. Good morning, Issei."
The usual routine continues as both of us were walking down the hallway, going to homeroom.
"Hey, Emiya. Did you knew that today, there will be an unusual phenomenon in the sky?" He pointed up to show his point.
"Yes, please do." I tried to get my mind off of Saber but am failing.
"Today, three objects will align over the world, which are Venus, Jupiter and the moon. The priests in the temple were in a hurry since this was an event that happened once or twice in a life time. Is'nt it interesting that we would look at it ourselves?"
Not if Saber isn't here. "Yeah. Seems pretty interesting."
With that, I took my seat and roll call began.
----------
The sun shined on my face, as I lay on the ground, in a lush forest looking over the city. The Holy Grail has some pretty amazing powers. Looking at my now naked, youthful body, it was a major difference from what the Alchemist's Stone or the Potion of Immortality can do. Even though I look like a high school student by today's standard, it feels alright. I could get used to this. Spotting a rag in front of me, I picked it up to see that it was…a white robe. To be more specific, it was clothing that looked like it was from those RPG games I've been hearing about.
"What the hell!? Do the Elder's think I could walk around in this in broad daylight? Either they must hate me or they have a very crude sense of humor. Get with the program, guys!" Birds flew from the direction where I was standing. There, I lay in wait, distraught, for the moon to start its daily waning…
----------
The sun began to set as I crossed the fork in the road and went up to Ryudo Temple, where a tombstone lies behind the lake. The wind howled, and in response, the trees swayed and wept. On the tombstone lie the words that were carved deeply onto its surface…
Arturia Pendragon
We shall remember you for everything that you achieved in your short live.
May you seek enlightenment in Avalon.
Our hearts are one and we shall cherish you, always.
It was concealed by Rin as it would be unexplainable if people saw this in a sacred and holy site such as this. Flowers grew on the plains that once occupied the Holy Grail and the darkness that corrupted the souls of many. The trees swayed as if it was crying for her return. Laying the flowers in front of the tombstone, I sat down and waited. After a few hours, the sun began setting down, and the sky started opening up, as a display of light began to shine though. Aurora bounced around the endless night, as if it was celebrating the planet's alignment. Wiping off the dirt off my pants, I start to go, a feeling of unease stuck on my heavy chest.
----------
The sun went down as it does every day. Once the blazing rock was out of sight, the immense aurora erupted out of nowhere, making a spectacular light show. The wind, the darkness and the earth felt so good. Moving every part of my body to see that it functioned, as it is, I started my descent down the lush mountain and into the metropolis known as Fuyuki City. The bridge and the building seem pretty interesting, more technology then I would have ever thought in my brief lifetime. The sight of those butcher shops and fish markets, however, revolted me. Humans contaminate the land for their own selfish greed and never give back to the earth. Never respected, always disposed of, the spirits that once occupied the life circle turn into haunts until they become a part of the life energy that the Servants of the Holy Grail Wars utilize. However, ever since she destroyed the artifact two times, those spirits would continue to occupy the earth's magic powers. But there is another way to use those spirits that has less bloodshed. The magic users that were part of history for thousands of years, preventing the buildup of the earth's magic system, like an unclogged artery. The bad thing is that out of the huge population known as humans, only around a thousand families that either have the knowledge or the skills of magic. In rare cases, one would accidentally stumble upon it, like when the person is in a magic source for a long period of time or short periods of time over 80 years. It's a shame that the Church continues to hunt down those that know of magic.
However, there was an outburst of energy that was around Fuyuki City ever since three of the Holy Grail Wars occurred in this area. Not even the High Court knows the source or the cause of why this happened. If I find any information about the cause of the outbreak, my position might be even equal to Merlin's. As this simple thought brought a smile on my face, I continued to walk in the direction of my objective, the Emiya household. Yet, a red-haired male in front of me was walking in the same path as me for the last five minutes. Walking up to him, I putted my hand on his shoulders and…
----------
"Are you Emiya-kun?" The faint whisper echoed in the air around me, and my body felt like it was chilled in a bucket of ice water. I replied with slight terror in my voice.
"Yes. Do you have any business with me?"
Turning around, the person that was behind me was actually a blond haired girl with different eye colors that looked like she was the same age as me. The only thing that was suspicious was the cloths that she was wearing. It looked like she was a White Mage from Final Fantasy.
"Yes. Emiya-kun, you are a magician, correct?"
The straightforward sentence triggered a switch in my body. It wasn't the switch of tracing or materializing. No, it was the natural switch of danger, as every fiber of my being was yelling at me to run away.
"Who are you?"
----------
"Don't worry. I am not here to harm you. My name is Riku Takada. I am here to go to your house, as an order of the Magic Association." Telling him a little white lie won't harm him anyway. Besides, he's going to know my true identity sooner or later if he is as good as his files say. Handing him a paper with the stamp of the Magic Association, he began to relax.
"Okay, come with me. When we get to my house, I want every single detail about this investigation." With that, he started to run towards his house. I began to use the wind magic to overcome his speed. However, there was one problem. "I can't use my magic?"
After a few seconds, I started to run after Emiya. "Wait for me!"
----------
Seeing that Takada-san hadn't run as fast as me, I started to unlock the door. Yet, there were sounds of struggle inside the house. What if Ilya was being attacked by a rouge magic user? I couldn't do anything then. The thief would be burned into a crisp. Nevertheless, I opened the door to see a familiar figure in front of me, lying on the doorstep, dressed in her regular cloths. My eyes couldn't believe my sight. "Saber?"
Stirring around, she started to come around, opening her eyes. "Shirou, is that really you?" Comfort spread all around me. Saber…is back. Alive.
"Yes. You're back, Arturia. Welcome home."
We stayed in that position for a few minutes, Saber in my lap and me looking at her as warmth started to come back to her body. The moment was interrupted soon, as the door opened followed with a crack.
"Ahh. You're a fast runner, Emiya-kun. Next time, take it easy on me." Takada-san was panting between each word as she said that sentence. However, Saber's face paled once again at the sight of her and pointed towards her direction. "You…"
"Ah, forgive my manners." The person known as Takada went down on one knee and began speaking with utter respect. "My name is Morgan Le Fay, Your Majesty. With our regards of the Round Table and the High Court, welcome back, King Arthur…." And smiled at Saber "….but let me assure you, your wish was granted and so was mine…Onee-chan."
----------
That concludes 'Chapter 1: Pacis Vel Chaos?'. If anybody has been wondering, 'pacis' and 'vel' are 'peace' and 'or' in English. If you piece them together, you get 'Peace or Chaos?' However, I couldn't find the Latin translation for 'chaos' since it originated from Greek. As always, I appreciate all reviews that you send. I will continue to incorporate mythology into the story, along with other tidbits of mine. My friend in my class once said 'Mythology is only crappy history that never existed.' I feel bad for him since we are learning about mythology and currently reading 'The Odyssey'. Even though it's very confusing, it's a good read if you decipher it all. If you were wondering why it took me around twelve days for me to type this up, I could only tell you that it involves a little brother, homework and project that are piling up along with upcoming volunteer duties. Who said life in New York City was easy? By the way, sara haruko takenouchi kamiya (That's a long name.), don't worry. I will keep this along the lines of the Fate route and BeatleBomb, I have no clue who you were thinking of but tell me, because I am very interested. Plus, I need some ideas so I could keep this interesting. Since Christmas is coming up, I might post a Christmas bonus at the end of the next chapter. Until then, ja ne. - Shimata