Relic of a King
Eternal Madness Empire
A crane feather fan, its handle was made of Chinese bamboo painted in dark brown polish. A dozen black-tipped white feathers lined tight almost like a genuine bird wing. It was an ordinary fan in all possible way.
"Perhaps we should use a trigram furnace for maximum result. We saw him used it, right?"
Dr. Roman suggested from the control room. Fujimaru mulled over it for a moment before shaking her head.
"The trigram furnace is not that iconic of him. We might as well summon Sun Wukong out of it. The feather fan, on the other hand..."
"It's just some ordinary fan you bought from a Rome bazar out of whim. Not exactly a historical item, of which the connection to Zhuge Liang is merely a superfluous detail. How many Heroic Spirits do you think had people fanning them on?"
"Well..."
"The Zhuge Liang we fought in Septem singularity was not exactly the Heroic Spirit," Mash tried to defend her senpai, "I have a feeling that we'll be fine with just an imitation."
"It's not like we have an access to the stone maze..."
"Summoning a Servant without a proper catalyst could cause an unexpected Heroic Spirit. If we don't have a sufficient defense in case of a dangerous Servant being summoned, you might be in danger!"
"Ah, here it comes."
"Ritsuka!"
A pillar of light shot out of the holographic magic circle. When the light receded, a man with long black hair with a too modern clothing knelt. His face was hardened, lined by creases and a frown.
"Servant, Zhuge Liang..." He stopped himself when he saw his contractor was staring hard at him, "What is it?"
"We don't really see eye to eye in Rome, but... just as I thought, you really don't look like a Chinese."
"That's what you have a problem with?" he sighed, "That's right, my real name is El-Melloi II. But the power of the Heroic Spirit has imbued this body. There should be no problem if you need me for the battle."
"Question; why Zhuge Liang doesn't come as himself?"
"He's one of those capricious Heroic Spirit, the one who has too much pride on himself."
"Ah."
The girl sulked. El-Melloi would like to compare her to a kicked puppy, but as a teacher, that trick was just no longer working on him. Nevertheless...
"Work hard as a Master, and maybe you can shame him for not answering to a decent Master."
Her eyes were like those students with high hopes and wishes, ambitious but naive. An innocent child who had no place in the battle for mankind's survival. But maybe that was what humanity need the most – when everything else failed.
"I won't tolerate laziness from you, especially when you summoned me like this."
She could only grinned sheepishly.
Does the Moon Goddess Dream of Dumplings?
Ritsuka Fujimaru – that was his Master's name.
A girl who was ignorant of the world of magecraft until recently. A girl who unintentionally stumbled upon Chaldea – or maybe it was Chaldea who stumbled upon her, when she had nothing in mind other than helping her fellow men through blood donation. Perhaps it was fate – that the last scion of mankind was someone who tried to do good even in a small way.
A simple young girl, who was happy when it was a joyous occasion, who was sad when an ally sacrificed themselves. A hard worker and fairly intelligent, but nevertheless a moderate ditz. Reminded him of a student of his, just with less ditziness.
Speaking of a student...
"...Cu Chulainn always says, 'later'."
"Is that so?"
"So, I'm thinking that maybe you can-"
"No."
"Why?"
"I don't think you can do rune magic."
"Then, what magecraft do you think will suit me?"
"It's a trial and error process, especially knowing you have no linage whatsoever to compare of."
"I have a lot of free time."
That one made him raised an eyebrow.
"Really? I doubt that when you have so many Servants to take care of."
"I'm good at making schedules." She shrugged, "So, can you teach me?"
"Well, aren't you annoying?"
"Well, I heard you're used to it."
He stopped his pen at this, his notes of the Singularities so far was forgotten.
"What do you mean, you heard it?"
"Doesn't really matter, just doing some research about you. Something, something Reines Archibald and such."
From her answer, it was clear that she did more than just 'doing research'. Despite being in a different parallel world, it seemed there were things that always turning out the same. It might not the same branch, but having to deal with that girl (witch)...
"Reines? I'm Zhuge Liang, I don't know who you're talking about."
"Is that so? Then you won't mind if I-"
"Wait!"
He shouted before he knew it. Now, the girl was staring at him with those large eyes of hers, almost like saying, 'all according to plan'. He was backed into a corner with that slip.
"If I teach you, you won't dig the Association?"
"Of course."
That was a lie, though mostly out of circumstances. Nevertheless, it was the beginning of their sessions. Fujimaru was a diligent student, more than most would be. She came on time and would not leave until the designed recess. When not studying, she left to dig up random things in Singularities to do the craft. It was a constant that rooted him into the familiar routine he had accustomed with.
Until he asked a certain question...
"Why did you want to learn from me?"
They had sit inside the ever growing library of Chaldea. Not far from them, Andersen cooped himself in the corner. El-Melloi almost heard the small author perked his ears to eavesdrop a potential juicy gossip. He pushed through.
"You have Roman and da Vinci. You can learn from them."
"...Dr. Roman is the head medic – he can only teach me first aid. While da Vinci..." she searched the way to explain, "You know how geniuses (madmen) can make a calculation, but often cannot explain it easily to the people because it just... came to them? It's the same way."
Of course he knew about geniuses, and thus, he was sympathetic. In the world where jack-of-all-trade is very valued because of the turbulent situation forcing each man relying only on their skills at hand, specialized geniuses were less the worth of someone who can survive long after the first blow dealt. Someone who can fairly search, cook, and preserve food was likely to live through the Incineration of Human Order than someone who could only whip out gourmet-level banquets – not that he'd like to insult Emiya's skills.
The girl was just trying to expand her repertoires. It was just there were too much natural smartasses (geniuses) in Chaldea, and she knew she wasn't one. She was a different kind of smartass (monologuer).
It was the last time he asked questions about her motivation to learn. After all, it was obvious. She thought it was her responsibility to make sure everyone lived through their trials. And it was his responsibility to prepare her for that moment. That moment when everyone's fates were on her hands. Or perhaps that moment had already came.
But for some reason, Chaldea seemed to attract a lot of sidetracking despite the end of humanity already on their front yard.
A woman claiming to be the Star Hunter Orion had asked (demanded) to have an impromptu moon viewing festival. An oriental ritual where one hammer the dumpling dough with hammer and then eating them under night sky.
He had no interest of oriental customs. His opinion of Japan was limited on their ability to churn out video games from whatever genre they could think of. He would order the games through mail and play them with moderation. Purchasing the pre-order bonus if it existed but never really wear it with enthusiasm of a fan. Writing an honest review in the costumer's corner. It was his habit, mostly done out of respect of a certain person, but it was his tick.
So, when everyone came out to hammer the dough and eat the snack, he cooped up inside his quarter playing games the Chaldea staffs had snuck up without the late Director's knowledge. Animusphere was still a somewhat traditional mage linage who looked down on modern technology unless it was convenient, thus the number of smuggled games was no more than 15. But now Animusphere was dead and one of the head staffs was a 16 year old not-mage, Chaldea's regulations became significantly much looser. You can play with your gadgets out in open and no one would bat an eyelash.
In the television screen, a sprite of a flying shrine maiden was frantically dodging thousands of bullets. Just as he completed the third stage, his Master snuck into his room.
"Not enjoying the festival?" he asked.
"I have enough dango to last me the entire year. Well, there's the time when Altera bisected Caligula, but mostly dango." His Master then leered at him, "Why are you not in the festival?"
"I have low opinion of Japanese rites."
"Is that so?" she droned, more interested with his game, "Say someone who play danmaku."
"If you have no business here, then get out."
"It's not like I have business outside either. Everyone just too drunk to be useful as a conversation partner."
Again she glanced at his game.
"Why are you playing this on TV when there's a computer? Isn't the game is actually PC exclusive?"
"The computer lags pretty badly. I can't get a good feel of it when the frame rate is 30 fps."
"What kind of potato is that computer ad why Chaldea has it?"
She walked over to said 'potato', examining it like some kind of alien life form. Turning it on, she fiddled with it. A familiar background music was heard from the speaker.
"It's not that bad if you adjust the pixelation. Does it have a graphic card?"
The lack of answer was an answer by itself.
"You don't understand. Then why are you even playing games?"
"It's mostly a tradition."
"The Clock Tower has a tradition of playing video games?"
"No, it's just me..."
She really is an open book, he thought. Despite very obviously wishing to press him, she did not. Minding privation of others, never wanting to offend her people, a model nice guy. Someone who knew that not everyone was like her and decided to be considerate, you felt that being considerate toward her curiosity was only fair. She put her heart on her sleeve with so much sincerity that 'I have to be honest with her' was the only correct way to interact the sole Master of Chaldea.
So, when she decided to put aside her curiosity, he tried to distract mostly himself from blurting out anything unnecessary. He was just that kind of person.
"You seemed to know much."
"Not really. This kind of thing is pretty basic."
"Then..."
He hesitated a little, thinking on how Tohsaka had failed him, but then quickly shrugged it off. Fujimaru was not like Tohsaka.
"Ever visited Akihabara?"
"Of course." She glanced at him once, then coyly added, "You say that like there's some kind of taboo about visiting Akihabara."
"It's just-"
"Just because that place is the sacred ground of the otaku, doesn't mean that's the only reason to go. Akihabara still a paradise, a Mecca for those who search for electronic appliances. There's no shame."
"It's a shame for me." El-Melloi finally grumbled.
"Ah. A magus' pride."
"Yes, a magus' pride. It might be strange for you, but it's the truth."
While it seemed that Fujimaru was not listening, with her starting to check the CPU, she was conversing perfectly with him. Just a mindless chatter about Akihabara and games and how stupid the Mage's Association for shunning humanity's progress. Fujimaru installed graphic card from one of the drawers into the PC and El-Melloi could not be more grateful. And yet...
"Can you please stop playing with my hair?"
"Why? It's a sin to not playing with long hair like yours."
"You can do that with some other guys. You're disturbing my concentration."
The extra stage was a continuous stream of bullets, every single kind the game had in disposal. What remained were small gaps that almost impossible to see and slip through except for the wonky hitbox the main character's sprite seemed to have. Nothing but rainbow and fireworks flashing on the screen, a surefire trigger for those who unfortunately epileptic.
Fujimaru ignored him.
"When I'm done with the braids, I'm gonna make you a crown."
El-Melloi sighed.
Fate Accel/ Zero Order
He opened his eyes after his Saint Graph (body) finished reconstructing.
His Master was there, sitting backward on a chair with her chin propped on.
"Welcome in the world of living, Professor."
"Yeah."
He stretched his arms over his head before patting his chest, where Lancelot had run him through with his sword. No wound remained, not even a scratch. He had never died under Fujimaru's command before, unlike a certain Archer, so he had never experienced just how death was for Chaldean Servants.
Destruction of Spiritual Core of a Servant should have spelled certain doom for them – and yet for Chaldea, it was a minor inconvenience. FATE was not only a Servant summoning system, it also registered whoever Fujimaru had summoned into molds (containers) and continuously updated the record with each progress they made with themselves. Just like with baked goods, all she had to do is pouring the batter (mana) into the mold and the Servants would come out exactly like they had been the last time they were alive as a Chaldean Servant. A system that ensured absolute efficiency of the contracts, where stupidity meant little as long as they had enough Servants to throw to the enemies.
The fact that Fujimaru was the only one remaining from the 48 was a blessing – there might be more Einzbern (arrogance) or more Matou (cruelty) in Chaldea's amidst had the bombing wasn't happened.
He almost forgot the cutthroat world of the fourth Heaven's Feel (Holy Grail War). Forgot how mages operate. When almost a year was spent in nothing but their singular aim to restore human's foundation, where each personnel tied to their peers and causes with their sense of camaraderie in their own way, Clock Tower's politics and power play had no place here. Chaldea was like a promised land where no matter what kind of strife that hit them, it stood like a mountain.
He sighed.
"Now you saw me in my 'prime'. Not very hyped up, huh?"
"I never doubt that you're a good person, Professor. I think you are a very brave man, even back then. Even when it seemed impossible, you fought with us."
"In a way, we are different people – just like Bathory and Carmilla."
His Master shook her head.
"I think you missed the memo, Professor. Not even Liz herself denied that she and Carmilla are the same person. Nevertheless, she tries to not turning the same way the best of her ability. Simply because she wants to." She shrugged, "The way you are now, I think you already succeed. You're no longer that insufferable brat who thinks of himself more than he actually is. But I don't think you're that different; you're still a brave man."
He bit the inside of his mouth until he tasted copper. Now he understood just how this girl capable of leashing countless Heroic Spirits. She didn't patronize him of being 'that insufferable brat' – she commended him of being a brave young man who fought against the Black Grail. She didn't criticize him for being a bitter adult – she thought of him as someone who had matured from his adolescent bravado.
Neither leaning toward good nor evil, accepting everyone unconditionally even their faults. He even bet that no matter how many times she was betrayed, she would take that traitor in after a fight because she always saw that thing that made a hero heroic. A cause that she was molded into following, the Origin. He mulled over it before abruptly standing up.
"Follow me."
The halls of Chaldea had since became a home. He walked her into his room without much words. Hidden inside a drawer he custom-crafted into one of his room's wall, he pulled a small wooden box. When his Master looked inside the box, she immediately knew.
"I once said that I will only follow one man."
"Yeah, I already have an inkling. Since the first time we met that Singularity."
"I always thought that I can't let just anyone stand beside him. Not even you. But then you fight and fight and fight, and I only feel shame for being so selfish. He's the kind of person who so overbearing that one person can never take him on."
"The kind of person who thinks your life-turning moment is just another one of his escapade."
When he thought about it, it was foolish. This girl summoned Gilgamesh, and Nero, and Romulus – yet her brain had not yet melted from how insufferable they were.
"Nevertheless, I will still follow him." He pushed the box to her hands, "And I want you to follow him too, if you're so allowed."
"..."
She said nothing, only observing that small scrap of cloth.
"Wanna see me summon him?" she finally said.