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Dimihd: I'll be the first to admit that I don't know as much about Luvia as I do the rest of the cast, but I'll be sure to do my best.
ShuKirisaki: It really do be like that. As of right now, it has been just over a week since I started uploading and I've written and uploaded 30,000 words. Honeslty, I'm pretty damn proud of myself. As I've said before, I'm not sure how consistent my upload schedule will be so please be patient with me.
SentinalSlice: Everything is up in the air at the moment. Even if Luvia gave up on wooing Shirou romantically after he married Rin, she wanted to employ Shirou as a petty "fuck you" to her rival.
Chapter 15: My Duty
Alcia had a bad feeling about Shiro, but her spar with Elizabeth cemented it. The way he fought… she couldn't reasonably believe any twelve-year-old fought like that. She could believe some prodigy somewhere could react to moves and adjust accordingly, but Alcia's been around for a while. There were several stances that she recognized from books and other knights. One of the stances he took when he changed his weapon to a world reminiscent of Excalibur was an exact stance she found in a book under the restricted section of the church's library.
If it were anyone else, she would have written it off as a coincidence, but Shiro was too much of an enigma for her to let that slide. The other thing was that he never used any form or Sword Arts other than Strengthening, Hardening, and Sword Morph. Lizzy's elemental arts have gone a long way and she was utilizing them to their fullest, but they were being countered completely.
Alcia had a hunch. At first, it was just a gut feeling, but Alcia's intuition never led her wrong. Despite her normal facade as a musclehead, she was an expert at analyzing fights and battlefields. She wasn't as good a strategist as Marco, the previous hero's strategist, but when it came to individual fights, there was no one better at dissecting them than her.
"That's another win for me," Shiro said as he put a sword to Elizabeth's throat. He waited a couple seconds before stepping back.
"How?! It's not fair!" Elizabeth pouted. Shiro just chuckled in response.
"Good job, both of you," Alcia clapped and stepped forward. "Elizabeth, you're dismissed. I want to go over a couple things with Shiro before the school year kicks off for real."
"Thanks Alcy," Elizabeth said with a smile.
"What was that, brat?" A tick mark appeared on Alcia's forehead. Elizabeth just giggled and ran away. The second she confirmed she was gone, she turned to Shiro. Elizabeth was a good kid. Alcia knew she wouldn't stick around, especially with all the work her other teachers put on her.
"Now," Alcia lifted her sword off the ground and put it over her shoulder. Her smile was gone, replaced by an intimidating glare. "Let's have a talk, o nameless Archer."
Shirou expected to get found out by Alcia, but he didn't expect to get found out during the first day. When he saw the history of Alcia's sword, he knew she was a combative genius, but this was just insane.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Shirou muttered, looking away.
"You're a shit liar, you know that?" Alcia laughed softly. "I wasn't sure, but you just confirmed it."
Curse my E-rank luck, Shirou thought. Just when he thought he was escaping his misfortune, it bites him in the ass.
"Now, I want to know what a trained killer is doing in this school and more importantly, what you want with Elizabeth," Alcia bent her knees and put one leg behind her, as if she was going to bull-rush Shirou.
At least I know she cares about her, Shirou thought.
"She's my friend," Shirou sheathed his swords and raised his hands. "Look, I'm just sure it was just one big misun—"
"Wrong answer," Shirou barely had time to unsheathe his swords and transform them into the first form he could think when Alcia charged him. The gigantic sword collided with the nameless shield of Achilles, causing the ground around them to crater.
"So you can turn your sword into a shield. Good to know," Alcia noted.
I can't keep up with her without… Shirou grit his teeth. He didn't want to test this with such extenuating circumstances, but Alcia didn't seem to be pulling any punches. He reinforced himself to the limit and immediately activated a Strengthening Art. He felt a rush of strength flow through him as he pushed Alcia off him.
"Wha—" Alica stumbled. Shirou jumped back and his sword morphed back to the married blades.
"I don't want to fight you, Miss Warren," Shirou shook his head. "I have no ill intentions towards the Knight's Academy."
"Likely story," A wall of earth directed behind Shirou and Alcia charged him once again. Shirou's sword morphed again and Alcia's sword met with the stone sword of Herakles.
"Okay, what the actual fuck," Alcia said with wide eyes. "No, seriously. What the hell is that sword?"
Shirou grit his teeth as he lifted the sword. He couldn't swing it out like the demigod could, but he was actually able to use it.
"Can you please let me explain myself?" Shirou asked.
"You're too dangerous," Alcia shot back. She swung her sword, only to be parried by the stone monstrosity.
"I've known Lizzy since I was three, Ms. Warren." Shirou parried another swing before stabbing his sword into the ground. "Look, I won't fight you. Hell, talk to my parents. Talk to Lizzy. What do I have to do to prove myself innocent?"
"Fine. I'll be writing to your parents," Alcia sheathed her sword behind her back. "Until they get here, I will be watching over you."
"Thank you," Shirou bowed at the waist before letting his sword transfer back to Kanshou and Bakuya.
"Now let's go get some lunch," Alcia said, a more easygoing smile returned on her face. "I want to know how you got so strong."
Two words came to Shirou's mind as Alcia glared at him.
Well shit.
A week had passed and Shirou continued his day-to-day life. Rose and Lubelia both shot Shirou concerned looks when they realized that a staff member was following him. None of the other students noticed, though. When they asked, Shirou looked directly at Alcia and said that he signed up for a test regarding his Sword Morph ability, not trying at all to hide the fact that he was lying.
It was after Cassandra's class when he was summoned to the principal's office by none other than Alcia herself.
"What's going on?" Mary asked. "Is Shiro in trouble?"
"It's fine," Shirou smiled at the young girl. "Miss Lysette just wanted to go over a couple things with me."
"Alright," Mary took the comment at face value and smiled. "I'll see you at lunch, Shiro!"
"See you," Shirou waved as she ran off.
"You're quite friendly with the other students," Alcia pointed out as they made their way to Lysette's office.
"I don't see how that's relevant to anything," Shirou raised an eyebrow. Shirou respected Alcia and he knew she respected him, but they weren't exactly friends. It didn't help that Alcia was hell bent on exposing him as a seasoned killer who wants something from Elizabeth.
Alcia knocked on the door to Lysette's office.
"You better act respectful," Alcia shot a glare at Shirou. "I'm not responsible for what Lysette will do to you."
"I'm well aware," Shirou shot back.
"Come in," Lysette called. Alcia opened the door to see Lysette sitting at her desk across from Akane and Kenji.
"Shiro," Akane had a sad look on her face. "I thought you were better than to get into trouble."
Even though Shirou knew he was innocent, he still felt a pang of guilt strike his heart.
"Sorry mom," Shirou looked down.
"Huh, I guess even you're able to be tamed by the Bloody Mist," Alcia muttered under her breath. "It's good to see you again, Akane, Kenji."
"I must admit, it was a surprise seeing you as a teacher, but from what Lizzy says, you've been doing a good job," Akane smiled at Alcia before turning back to Lysette. "Now, can you please tell me what my son has done? You refused to speak on it until he arrived."
"We have reason to believe that Shiro murdered twelve members of the Church of Pendragon four months ago," Lysette said as Shiro and Alcia took a seat. Alcia took a place next to Lysette while Shirou sat next to his parents. "The suspect dubbed himself as a Nameless Archer and fought with a red spear that managed to dispel a level 8 Energy Art with a single touch. If it was in fact Shiro, he will face no criminal charges as the Church of Pendragon is a high-profile criminal organization and every member is deemed a high priority criminal, but you must understand that we are worried that he might have ulterior motives."
"So that's where you went that day?" Akane turned to look at Shirou.
"I told you Lizzy was in danger," Shirou shrugged.
"Wait," Alcia held her hands up. "You mean you know about this?"
"I admit we don't know much about what Shiro did," Kenji spoke up for the first time since Shirou entered the room. "When we woke up that morning, we saw a note from Shiro saying that Elizabeth was in danger and he was going to go rescue her."
"And what is Shiro's relationship with Elizabeth?" Lysette asked.
"Well, Elizabeth was Shiro's first friend," Akane explained. "They first met when Shiro turned three. He's been protective of her ever since. When Elizabeth summoned Excalibur, Shiro only got more protective."
"So he knew her before she summoned Excalibur?" Lysette asked. Akane nodded in the affirmative.
"Shiro, do you have anything to say about this?" Lysette asked.
"I always knew there was going to be someone after Lizzy. Whether it be for power, money, or something else, it was an inevitability," Shirou explained, leaning forward in his chair. "I set up an Art that would alert me if she was in danger. When it went off, I immediately went to rescue her. I hid my identity because I knew she would panic if she saw me in danger. I didn't want her doing something irrational."
"An Art?" Alcia asked. Shirou responded by transforming his sword into a dagger that looked similar to the one that Elizabeth had on her necklace.
"Sword Morph is a very useful Art," Shirou explained calmly.
"I see," Alcia leaned back in her chair. "So you only wanted to protect Elizabeth? Nothing else?"
"Yes," Shirou replied.
"Well, if that's the case, I believe that's all we need to discuss," Lysette stood up. "Shiro, why don't you introduce your parents to your friends? I have to discuss something with Alcia."
"Thank you," Shirou stood up and bowed. "Hey mom, dad. Let me introduce you to Rin and Luvia."
Shirou didn't miss Lysette's raised eyebrow and his parents' look of shock as he turned around and exited the office.
"So, how was he?" Lysette asked.
"He's an absolute monster," Alcia replied. "I honestly can't believe he's only twelve. He was able to keep up with me when I was using Level 8 Strengthening. If he wanted to kill me, I believe that there might have been a chance he could have."
"That's… concerning," Lysette replied. The way Shirou talked about Elizabeth. He was completely right. People have already approached her, trying to take advantage of her, but Alcia had always put a stop to it quickly.
But a twelve-year-old shouldn't be thinking about things like that, Lysette thought to herself. She had a lovely chat with Akane and Kenji about Shiro before Alcia arrived with Shiro and the parents talked about Shiro like a normal kid. A very strong and intelligent kid, but a kid nonetheless. The only time they didn't know where Shiro was when he went off to save Elizabeth.
"What do you think?" Alcia asked. There was a pregnant silence before Alcia paled. "Do you think he's—"
"No," Lysette shook her head. "Akane and Kenji showed me the paperwork. He's their biological child. There's no way he could have been taken or abused in any way. Tell me, has he shown any signs of being abused?"
"No," Alcia admitted with another shake of her head. "He's a very polite young man. He knew I was watching, but no one, even Lizzy pointed out that he was acting strange. The only time he even acknowledged me was when Rose and Lubelia Giliad asked why someone was following him."
"I see," Lysette looked down at her desk, Shiro's file staring at her right back. "Well, we can only hope that he's only here to protect Elizabeth."
"Yeah," Alcia stared at the closed door where Shiro had left but a couple minutes ago. "I hope so."
"Rin, Luvia, I would like you to meet my parents, Akane and Kenji" Shirou said. He was in Rose and Lubelia's room along with both Akane and Kenji.
"Oh, so you're my little Shiro's wife? What a darling you are," Akane said with a smile.
"Wait, they know?" Rose glared at Shirou. "What did you do?"
"I… may have summoned my sword with my aria…" Shirou rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.
"You idiot," Rose pinched the bridge of her nose. She then stood up and curtsied to the two adults. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I am known in this world as Rose Giliad, but your son knows me as Tohsaka Rin."
"My name is Lubelia Giliad, but I once went by Luvia Eldelfelt," Lubelia greeted the adults with a similar gesture.
"How polite," Akane turned to Shirou. "You really got lucky with her."
"I know," Shirou had a small smile on his face. "These two are the only people who know about my reincarnation. They've been very good to me."
"Thank you for taking care of my knucklehe— I mean my husband," Rose bowed to his parents.
"Think nothing of it. This may be his second life, but he is our only son," Kenji said with a smile. "If you two need anything, feel free to ask. Your father knows us pretty well so you can always ask him to send letters to us."
"You have our gratitude," Lubelia bowed to the couple as well.
"Now, I'm sure we have a lot to talk about," Akane clapped her hands together.
"What do you mean?" Shirou turned to his mother with a confused look.
"Why, I need to tell them about how you were as a baby!" Akane cooed. "Now, there's this one time when Shiro was three…"
I'm starting to think that this was a bad idea, Shirou thought. He knew a lonely man in a world of blades was enjoying his suffering and that only made him angrier.
Meanwhile, hundreds of miles away, a hooded man entered a temple long abandoned in the Northern Highlands. He walked down the winding hallways until he entered the center of the temple, where a golden chalice was placed atop an altar. The man, noticing the power emanating from the cup, approached.
"Oh?" The man stopped in front of the cup and reached for it. "And what might you be?"
Dun dunnn! Are you excited? I know I am! This will be the focus for the current arc, but it won't be the focus for the story. There's still a lot to go after this. Anyways, please do consider leaving a review! I would love to read and reply to your thoughts. As this is an original world, I'd be more than happy to answer any questions you may have. Also please join my Discord! I would love to talk to you all and answer all your questions! I talk a lot about my thought process while writing, so if you're interested in that, do consider joining. The url is discord . gg (forego the spaces) followed by a slash and CpVs7R8KXz. Unfortunately you'll have to type the rest of the url in manually because I'm not allowed to post links. Thank you for reading and I'll catch you on the flipside.