Rin Tohsaka "R" Trailer

Rin converted the energy within the small red dust crystal. She picked it up and inspected it. She sighed then leaned back on her wooden chair. She wondered whether she would have the same time to dedicate once the school session started. She had gotten her acceptance into Haven so it was only a matter of weeks.

More than that, Rin hoped Sakura would be fine. She insisted it was okay. That it was only natural. Still, even if Sakura could take care of herself didn't mean that she wanted to live alone. It was always just the two of them. Well, them and the Fake Priest who would check in from time to time. It had been a while since she last heard from him. Rin saw that as a blessing.

Granted, they lived in Mistral so it wasn't like she and Sakura were truly saying goodbye.

Rin wandered back upstairs where Sakura was setting down a bag. Sakura smiled. "Just in time." Sakura held out a delicious crêpe which made Rin's eyes sparkle as she felt the saliva pool in her mouth. "Congratulations!"

Rin took the desert and took a bite. Her cheeks flushed with delight when she noticed there wasn't a second. "You didn't get one?"

"It's a celebration gift."

Seriously this girl. "And celebrations are best when sharing joy with others." She shoved the crêpe in front of her mouth. Sakura's eyes widen as she brought up her hands.

"Is it really okay?" Sakura said it bashfully but Rin could see the eager flicker of her eyes on the treat. They didn't have a lot of money, and crêpes weren't the cheapest desert, but they had enough to buy two.

"I wouldn't offer if it wasn't."

"Then…" Sakura took a bite. Rin could see the bliss radiate off her. "Oh, and I saw Mr. Gelb on the way." Sakura turned to looks at the bag on the table. Rin copied her action. "The dust crystals are in there. They aren't the best quality but he offered a discount."

The Tohsaka family had a hereditary quirk that allowed for the conversion of power. Well, most of the Tohsaka possessed it. There were always outliers like Sakura.

The family always unlocked their aura and semblances young. It had nothing to do with combat. It was seen as natural to gain access to it. After all, it granted protection. More than that, it was tied to a large hidden secret. Well, their ancestors was a witness even if the Tohsaka family didn't know everything. She wasn't sure if anyone knew everything.

However, not knowing everything didn't mean their knowledge was limited.

Aura was ultimately a derivative source of magic. A weak byproduct of true magic. Semblances served as an origin point – a personal alignment, and the amount of aura often was a determinant of lineage. It had been thousands of years so it was a natural product of ancestry that it was a common phenomenon.

It was common conjecture that it was a manifestation of the soul since how personable the manifestations of semblances were, but the public was mistaken. If it was their soul then they'd have an army of soulless for every occurrence of auras breaking and it wouldn't recover the way it did.

Where did it originate was still debated. Some say it was a gift of gods. Some claimed it was from the will of the world. Whatever the true source was, it was undeniable that magic continued to exist. Nagato Tohsaka and Zolgen Makiri had been friends with Justeaze Lizrich von Einzbern, who had once been the Winter Maiden. That was centuries ago, but their families wouldn't forget the power the title brought about.

Maidens. Women granted magic, but human at their core. The tales varied even among those in the know. Entire secret underground organizations created for those who knew and pursued to seek the truth from the world. To purge all evils from the world, though what constituted as evil in their context wasn't intuitive.

Some spoke of Maidens in high regard, as protectors of the world. Some spoke of them in contempt believing them to be the world's enemies. It was said there was only ever four at a time. One representing each season and acted as a key to a holy reliquary, wherever those were. Some even believe that the four reliquaries together could act as a path to the Root. It even left the potential for their children to pass on the gene. However, in search of the truth and in the path of greed there were many who sought to steal such power or attempt to destroy it for good. Being attacked and killed meant Maidens stayed hidden, and rarely did one live long enough or create meaningful relationships to produce a child.

As such, the energy has diluted over generations that it was preposterous for academics to call aura magic. Aura worked for the general public, but other societies began to call it magecraft. Another form of pretentiousness. Rin couldn't say she didn't participate in the shared language when appropriate, but she didn't hold all their values. Some of them were so uptight and there were a fair amount of alliances and marriages to keep their lines strong. Even her parents came together that way.

There were differences besides dilution, though. Magecraft could only use Od, one's lifeforce. Magic could use Mana, the energy present in the atmosphere of the world.

Rin continued the pursuit of her family's research. She was a dutiful daughter, but she also enjoyed it. Others wanted to reach the Root, but she simply liked exploring potential. To test her limitations.

It was also why she was going to attend Haven Academy. She could go hang out with the 'elite' families as they pursued research or she could continue to do things her way. Besides, what better way to study Auralogy than in a school where everyone had sufficient auras that they weren't trying to guard. It felt like a much better productive endeavor.

"We also got a letter from Kirei." The name of the Fake Priest filled Rin with a sense of dread. She swore he liked messing with her. She refused to believe he was that oblivious. Or maybe he was. What else did she expect a lonesome man to understand about a teenage girl?

"What does he want?"

"He's asking how the weapon training is coming along."

Rin freezes and couldn't help but show a disgusted face as she thought of that heap of metal. Folded in half it came up to her chest, and it's full length was taller than her. Their family practiced martial arts as it was deemed important, and Kirei had even helped her with that. Between her fighting, aura, and semblance she was set without a hunk of metal but he gave it to her anyway, just like he gifted her that outfit. The blue went with her eyes but the clothes had a subdued feeling to them that didn't encapsulate her personality. More importantly, he knew she loved red! Why would he get her a cool tone when warm tones suit her pallet so much better?! "Stupid Priest."

"Don't be that way. He made it for you himself. Don't you think you should at least give it a try just to see if you like it?"

Rin watched as Sakura pout.

"A weapon would be safer than your fists."

Rin felt an arrow shoot through her chest as Sakura stared with worry and endearment. It's too much. It way too much. It's not fair. Why is her sister so cute? Sakura was hers. No one else was allowed her.

Rin quickly whipped her head to the side. Her hair flew and she closed her eyes. "I guess I can give it a try." She opened one eye to gauge Sakura's reaction. She's so happy. "I make no promises though," she grumbled.

"You'll make a great Hero!"

Rin could feel it – at times like these she was a complete fool.

So much for hyper competence.

Note: Some Canon, Some Fusion, Some New or Twisted Lore. Also some fun details like how Justeaze was known as the Holy Maiden of Winter among other eggs.