Author's Note: Sorry to anyone who complains about Shirou's new attributes, but I don't see Merlin holding back at all here. It also helps provide an excuse for a Shirou who remembers multiple routes of Fate/Stay Night in the future, though the base is Fate Shirou. Revised due to issues with Artoria's characterization on 2020/11/15.
Chapter 03: Into the Lion's Den
Fuyuki City Church
Artoria had acted quickly to grab the child and flee back into the Church's guest bedroom. Tokiomi Tohsaka didn't even have a chance to inspect Shirou, and the worried Servant didn't want him to do so before she could. She immediately set the child on the bed and propped a chair against the door to deny others entry. Putting a hand on his chest, she got to work giving him a thorough scan. Her own prana flooded into his body and started to analyze the boy. The results were worrying.
She identified that he had an unlikely hybrid of Pure Eyes, Clairvoyance, Glam Sight: Fairy Eyes, and a type of inactive Mystic Eye which she couldn't even begin to identify. Strangely, she could piece together why he likely had each type of eye except the unknown one. Pure eyes were a sign of inheriting destiny, which reincarnating Shirou into his own embryo could have achieved. Clairvoyance was likely a further development of his existing ability to discern information from objects via his Structural Grasping skill and thankfully wasn't to the degree of predicting the future. Shirou's Fairy Eyes were probably the result of being born with Avalon within him, as it was a scabbard with a connection to the Fae. Each aspect increased his ability to glean visual information and augmented what he could determine with his Structural Grasping ability. Glam Sight: Fairy Eyes also improved his mind's ability to process information. Artoria highly doubted that it was an accidental manifestation.
Her suspicions were confirmed when she felt one hundred and eight EX-ranked Magic Circuits in his body, a multiplication of four from his natural state with a massive improvement in quality. The quality or quantity alone would have been something to aspire to, but the combination made Shirou a likely object of envy for most Mage bloodlines alive today. Even this, however, paled to what she sensed concealed behind these circuits. In an illusion clearly crafted by Merlin himself which would have fooled most mages unaware of his methods, she felt it in spite of its inactive state. A root-damned Magic Core.
"...Merlin, you had best have a very good explanation for this..." Artoria practically growled to herself.
Avalon
A nervous Merlin never allowed his expression to falter, wearing the same smug smile as usual in spite of his inner turmoil. Morgan was staring him down even as he tried to think of how to parse this in the most practical and least painful manner possible. "Morgan," he started with the appropriate pleasantries, "welcome to my workshop. I thought you had no wish to inquire as to the nature of my work in here any longer. Please be sure not to step on Artoria. She is unable to respond to us at the moment." Indeed, Artoria's true body was still sleeping within the circle. She was still remotely controlling her Saber self in place of any Saint Graph or connection to the Throne of Heroes.
"I believe I employed more colorful language regarding the topic of visiting your workshop again, Merlin. However, my little sister's lover being altered to this degree compels me to rethink my policies for the moment." Morgan said, her expression somewhat stern. She had clearly been monitoring things on her own end as well.
"Oh? Am I being praised? That is so rare from you!" Merlin said with an annoying smile. There was a time in the past when it had charmed her, but now this particular expression of Merlin was a reminder of things that were quite unpleasant and painful to her. This included his personality.
"Do not be dense," Morgan growled bluntly while looking at the Magus of Flowers with a solid focus. "If your meddling in Artoria's life continues to bring her pain as it has in the past, my opinion of you may well drop further. An impressive achievement in its own way, but ill-advised to attempt." Morgan clearly felt awkward, speaking in such a way.
"Oh? Showing concern? If being a common enemy to the two of you was all it took for you to favor Artoria, I should have done so long ago! Within reason, of course. The child is like a daughter to me." The smile on Merlin's face widened slightly and his eyes glowed with mirth. Yes, this was the annoying man who Morgan just couldn't stand.
"Says the man who has likely sired more actual daughters to neglect than-" Morgan started in irritation, only to freeze and silence herself for a time at the thought of Mordred. The room donned a pensive mood and Merlin was able to connect the dots. He opened his mouth to inform her that Mordred made her own choices in life, only for Morgan to quickly start speaking again to avoid the conversation. "Look. I have no right to preach in concern for Artoria. Not after all I have done. Our interactions are cordial and that is the most I shall ever expect them to be. However, I want her to suffer no more. I have long been satisfied. That is why I have come to...verify a few things."
The smile returned to Merlin's face. For Morgan to take an interest of this nature was both a good sign and the best entertainment the stagnant utopia had seen in quite some time. "Very well, Morgan. Inquire, and I shall respond." He gave a dramatic, gentlemanly bow to which Morgan simply brought a hand to her hip in an adjustment of her stance.
"Fine. The increase of his Magic Circuits' number and quality. The manifestation of Pure and Mystic Eyes. The integration of a Magic Core. These all imply that you've done far more to change the soul of that boy than to merely reincarnate him." The witch knew Merlin had done something, but she didn't understand what. He simply maintained that smug expression of knowing.
"Morgan...you are aware that there are situations where the connection to the land allows a person to be born with greater or fewer Magic Circuits, correct? If the land accepts the family, they grow in power with each generation. If rejected, they have less." Morgan nodded, following Merlin's explanation so far. "Well, his soul being connected to this land in the Reverse Side of the World by way of the scabbard has led to Shirou being accepted by this realm. Avalon, in the Reverse Side of the World, is his patron land. The scabbard also remembers from its time in Artoria's flesh how to repair a Magic Core. Can you imagine the consequences of that on an unborn child as it develops in the womb?"
The woman's expression shifted. Oh, she understood now. Her expression made that clear. "The land would naturally ensure that the child was suited for it. As a typical human couldn't survive here unaided and the scabbard had the means to intercede as an agent of such...the child would be altered into a being that could both endure and perceive these lands. The scabbard's new functions connecting it to its counterpart resting in Artoria would provide a profile for it to follow. You have given Artoria a mate like herself, duplicating her dragon blood and its accompanying Magic Core. You...have done this so that the child would be able to join Artoria here if needed."
Morgan kicked herself for not realizing it sooner. It might well have been the best solution, given the circumstances. The hundred and eight Magic Circuits were likely formed by Merlin using this process to adapt and multiply the twenty-seven Circuits that were already there as camouflage for the Magic Core. Still, something else struck her as odd. "That still does not explain the presence of the Counter Guardian. That was never a part of his soul before."
Merlin's smile took on a slightly nervous shift that most other people might have missed, but not one who had known him for 1500 years. She realized that there was something else she wasn't being told. The Witch of the Lake glared at the man, unyielding and demanding a response.
"Okay, okay. Look," Merlin began, "the boy was killed in Artoria's care in a manner that she regrets deeply. Thus we reincarnated him and are helping him to remember himself gradually. However...he was not the only one to die. There were many Shirou Emiya whose souls were collected from various instances of the World. Even the original unborn child of this World had a soul. Rather than destroy or neglect them, I merged them together for optimum effect." Merlin stated as if it were an obvious course of action.
"M-merged them?" Morgan inquired, having not expected that.
"Yes. Integrating the soul of the unborn child allows him to regain his original Origins, Elements, and Affinities he had in addition to Sword. Using multiple versions of the Shirou who knew Artoria reinforces those memories and experiences to make sure they're the strongest impulses. Adding a few stray ones, such as the Counter Guardians who serve as his future selves, brings additional Noble Phantasms into his Reality Marble as well as other supplemental knowledge for his mind to unlock. Using them all to destabilize his Reality Marble with the multiple souls' various interpretations allows it to heal over time with his new properties and the scabbard in full effect. There were a lot of souls to work with thanks to our contacts, so 'waste not, want not', as it were." Morgan couldn't believe what Merlin was saying and initially had trouble picking out just which issue to raise first.
"The souls with almost entirely identical experiences and memories might work, but merging souls with differences between them risks severe abnormalities such as multiple personalities! This is especially the case with the Counter Guardian! How did you account for that? Did you start cutting pieces off of his soul and expect it to be akin to pruning a shrubbery? You are hardly the person to trust with prioritizing the importance of memories or recognizing what parts of the human mind and soul are healthy and unhealthy. You do not even fully comprehend human nature yourself!" Morgan was quite irritated, but that irritation just made Merlin keep smiling. He was amused by this madness for some reason. Truly, the centuries had left the man unhinged in her mind...
"I am not recklessly butchering a shrubbery, Morgan. The Counter Guardians have been merged into one instance of EMIYA and are only connected through the left arm's Magic Circuits due to a loophole provided by an arm transplant onto Shirou in one reality. EMIYA is largely independent and exists within Shirou as a separate entity to help teach the child how to fight and survive. As for the various other Shirou...think of it as temporarily tying off parts that are not as likely to be needed or accessed, but they are still there if he truly needs them and accesses them. At least until the parts he rarely or never accesses naturally degrade and are then pruned by that mechanism with a few exceptions. Not that any shared memory with our Artoria or from his life up to that point should be pruned. No, those are absolute and are safe for him to remember one day. Those are definitely the core of the Shirou that Artoria needs. In addition, the Alchemists in Atlas have developed a number of mind management practices that were quite applicable here. I have not been idle in my research." The man held his smile, looking upon the worried and seething Morgan. Clenching her hands, seemingly ready to slap him...yes, this was the best outcome that he could hope for.
"Why do you look so happy with yourself, Merlin? Does my irritation please you so? Is tempting my sister's hopes through such dangerous tampering your new form of entertainment?" Morgan finally growled, ready to strike the man no matter how useless it would be to attempt him harm. Merlin, however, simply shook his head.
"Do you truly not understand? I am pleased because your frustration is unmistakably for Artoria's sake." Morgan froze at his words, her urge to strike him forgotten. Having effectively disarmed Morgan's violent impulse, Merlin continued. "Had you come to manipulate or subvert like so long ago, you would not be acting like this. Your thoughts would be kept close to your chest and you would collect information, waiting for your time to strike. No, you come not as an enemy or even as a neutral party, but as a worried elder sister. Perhaps you should stop avoiding the role and talk to her."
Morgan's face shifted to an expression that Merlin hadn't seen on her face since the more innocent days of her youth, a somewhat pouty expression that nearly made him laugh. Of course, he maintained his composure and continued. "In the meantime, I would like you to continue to come to me with your concerns, Morgan. It is as you say. I am not a master at comprehending the human condition, much less the human soul. It is one of the reasons it is so fascinating to me. Though I hope you voice your protests privately so as not to alarm Artoria before you have verified that there is indeed cause."
The worried elder sister, blindsided by being called out so clearly, couldn't bring herself to do anything more than walk away and leave the workshop before she compromised herself further before the man. Merlin's smug expression was forgotten by the woman but still remained on his face as he watched her walk away.
He could only hope that Artoria's rage would be so easily disarmed.
Fuyuki City Church
212 hours to Zero
The pews of the Church contained a bizarre scene. Tokiomi Tohsaka sat in one of the pews irritated at the fact that his Servant preferred to be elsewhere. He needed as many Command Spells and as much loyalty as he could manage in these early stages, so Gilgamesh was out exploring rather than being compelled to attend. The Second Owner occasionally directed his eye to Kariya Matou. Say what he would about the man, Kariya had at least made no move to take advantage of the fact he held Berserker in Spirit Form somewhere nearby. The wish he apparently held, to 'save Sakura', nagged at Tokiomi's mind.
Tokiomi allowed himself to relax a small bit when Kirei Kotomine arrived in person, surely with an invisible Assassin in tow. Even if they could not be known openly as allies, Kirei could reasonably use Assassin to intercept any attack from Berserker to maintain the neutrality of the Church grounds.
The fourth entity to arrive was an expressionless Einzbern homunculus in a maid outfit. The lack of command seals on her hand indicated that she was not the Einzbern Master, but one of the many such beings under the direct control and perpetual observation of the head of the Einzbern family. She was likely one of those responsible for maintaining the Einzbern Mansion outside the city in preparation for the Einzbern Master's arrival from Germany. Two familiars arrived after this, clearly meant to conceal and protect their Masters from subsequent attack. With their arrival and the presumption that Caster would be a no-show, Risei began to speak at 10:00 AM.
"Everyone, thank you for attending this meeting today," Risei led with, giving those assembled at least the minimum degree of courtesy. "I'm afraid that I must inform you that the Grail War is in grave peril. We have identified Caster's Master as the person behind the recent murders in Fuyuki. He assaulted an orphaned child and used the blood to create a summoning circle to manifest Caster, though this action also allowed a second Saber-class Servant to manifest and save that child. As such, there are now eight teams in this War." Only Kirei showed surprise at this fact, the others present either already aware or lacking the means to convey surprise effectively. Risei, however, continued.
"Saber heard the rogue Master introduce himself to Caster as one Ryuunosuke Uryuu, a self-professed fan of the murder of children and young women. Caster also misidentified Saber as Jeanne d'Arc and carries a unique spellbook, making her believe his identity to be that of the Bluebeard aspect of Gilles de Rais. While Caster's and his Master's actions thus far aren't yet enough to justify suspending the war, they will surely continue their indiscriminate murder spree by their very natures. Some measure to prevent the revelation of Magecraft is required. Thus, by the emergency powers granted to me as Supervisor, I am temporarily adding a secondary objective to the Holy Grail War. While combat is not halted, Masters are to prioritize the elimination of Caster and his Master. The one who succeeds in this task will receive an additional Command Seal as their reward." The man pulled up his sleeve, showing the additional command seals he bore to distribute as needed.
"These are the unused command seals left behind by the fallen Masters of past Grail Wars. One of them should prove to be of immeasurable value to whoever receives it. Once Caster's destruction has been positively confirmed, the Holy Grail War will continue normally until a victor emerges." With that clarified, Risei continued on to the next detail.
"It should be further noted that though neither Saber nor her young Master currently have a desire for the Grail, Saber disappearing could cause Caster to act rashly and also strip us of a valuable tool to manipulate his movements. As such, the Church will not be removing the child's Command Seals at this time. Regardless, they are not to be attacked unless they attack first. Attacking them without cause comes at the risk of a one Command Seal penalty. Further decisions will be considered at the time of Caster's defeat. Now then, if anyone has questions, please ask them now." Risei smiled at his offer, amused at his audience's less human entities. "But of course, that offer is limited to those who can actually speak in human languages."
Kirei regarded his father and spoke first. "Father, if I may...I was under the impression that the Grail only summoned proper Heroic Spirits. Bluebeard was a criminal fascinated with the murder of children and sinning against God specifically to stand in open defiance against him. How could the Grail have allowed such an evil entity to manifest in the first place?"
It was a good question, albeit one Risei wished his son hadn't asked in front of all of these people. "Remember that unlike Mister Uryuu's clearly stated identity, Saber fully admits that her identification of Caster is an educated guess. However, an identity of Bluebeard would align perfectly with both the personality of his murderous Master and with the method of summoning employed. A hypothesis is being developed but requires the cooperation of the Einzberns to confirm or refute. Until then, anything I say would be mere speculation."
"Where might this mysterious Saber Servant and her Master be?" The Einzbern homunculus asked in a monotone that did not match the suspicion of her words. Clearly that question was from Old Man Acht himself.
"Berseker and her Master had already taken it upon themselves to pursue the serial killer since the scenes of previous crimes employed various types of valid Magic Circles and constituted a risk of exposing Magecraft to the populace. They were able to assist Saber and her Master in making Caster retreat and immediately brought the pair to the Church to inform me of the situation. They all stayed the night and seemed well, but the child fell unconscious within the past hour due to a complication related to last night's events. We've yet to determine the condition of the child, as Saber immediately took him to the guest bedroom and barricaded herself inside with him. While we can't formally grant the child asylum due to the rules, the situation is an extreme one that warranted him staying the night until a decision could be reached and conveyed to the rest of the Masters. It is also true that Saber has to remain in the War until Caster's defeat to distract him, so moving him out of the room right now while unconscious would serve no purpose."
"What sort of complication?" Kirei inquired, wondering if there was something he could do to assist with his spiritual surgery skills. That was what he was normally supposed to do, after all.
With that, Berserker left Spirit Form and manifested physically. She looked to Risei and spoke to the man. "This seemed to be an appropriate time to say that the child seems stable and is resting comfortably. Saber is still guarding him carefully though." This, combined with a subtle shake of the head from Tokiomi, compelled Kirei to drop his line of questioning.
"If there are no further questions, that concludes our meeting. The Three Families' representatives are requested to remain to discuss other matters pertaining to the maintenance of the War." Risei said, subtly kicking out his son and the familiars. Kirei knew he'd be informed later if it was relevant, so he obliged without complaint.
Once everyone was gone, the Einzbern maid found herself being looked at by all remaining eyes. Tokiomi cast a spell making sure they weren't observed by anyone who wasn't supposed to be inside the Church. Risei spoke for the group. "This matter involves the continued health and viability of the Grail. It is a suspicion voiced by Saber which only the Einzberns can confirm or deny."
"...The head of the Einzbern Family is listening." The maid said in a monotone, confirming their suspicions as to who was listening through the shell before them.
Risei resumed speaking. "Regarding the summoning of the irregular and malicious Servant Caster, Saber stated that she had memories of a Parallel World where a specific event allowed such a thing to be possible. It was a world where the Holy Grail became corrupted."
"Impossible." The Einzbern maid said, without pause or hesitation. There was a speed to that response that was off-putting. Risei, however, continued.
"She stated that in that world, the Einzberns summoned the Avenger-class Angra Mainyu, who became trapped in the Grail after the war's conclusion. The existence corrupted the Grail not only to manifest irregular Heroic Spirits but also made it grant wishes in the most destructive manner possible. It became a monkey's paw and nonviable as a proper wish granter." Risei looked to the Einzbern mage with true concern. "We know the Einzberns here have done irregular summons before. If something like Angra Mainyu were ever summoned through unconventional means while lacking a place in the Throne of Heroes, and thus had nowhere to go after the end of the War..."
"There is no evidence of such corruption. The summoning of the irregular Heroic Spirit in question could have been caused by a myriad of factors in the unusual summoning process. The confluence of affinity and catalyst both matching Bluebeard well, specifically the aspect of murder and a child's blood, may have overpowered certain restraints on the selection system." Acht's irritation came through with the timing and phrasing in spite of the vessel's monotone. "While we will watch for further developments, there is no reason to alter our current course. The Einzberns will re-obtain the Third Magic. Expect our representative within the next few days. Do separate the wheat from the chaff by then." The maid stood, gave a slight nod of a bow, and departed the Church without concern.
"That went well," Kariya said with sarcasm. This attracted Tokiomi's attention, and he gave Kariya a displeased look.
Artoria finally opened the door and re-emerged at this moment. She had been carefully listening in. The young woman in modern sporty garb drew Tokiomi's attention when she spoke. "At least they have not seen my or my Master's face. I would have preferred it not have come at the cost of such trauma, though."
"Saber," Tokiomi stated, "I think we should verify exactly what sort of condition your young Master is in and what sort of Aria he attempted to use. He had claimed to have no knowledge of Magecraft aside from dreams since summoning you. Manifesting Mystic Eyes in such a way can be stressful and shows Magic Circuit mutation. If I don't assist properly, he may not be able to deactivate them." Artoria wanted to tell him to refrain from intervening, but the man was correct. He was the Second Owner as well and could expel Shirou from Fuyuki or call in the Mage's Association to take Shirou away with but a word. As such, a limited version of the truth was likely the best policy. Something that did not call down the wrath of the Mage's Association on her young Master.
"...Shirou attempted to enact a form of Magecraft which I have observed in the past. It is based on Structural Grasping and Projection. He could conceivably have seen it in my memories." Artoria wasn't technically lying and hoped that her misdirection kept them from suspecting Shirou to have a Reality Marble. The boy would surely try to use Tracing again and the eyes helped explain it away. "When attempting to cast it while looking upon the previous Lesser Grail, he activated his Mystic Eyes which seem geared toward optimizing this process."
"So he cast his first spell and this influenced the development of his own Mystic Eyes? I've not heard of such a thing, but these are never before encountered circumstances. Such complexity would require a large number of Magic Circuits, though. How many does he have?" Tokiomi noticed as Artoria hesitated to answer his question and the man's expression grew a bit stern. "Saber. As the Second Owner of Fuyuki responsible for matters of Magecraft and its practitioners in the area, I ask you. How many Magic Circuits does your Master possess?" Artoria would have preferred to fight her way free and remove her Master rather than answer that question. Still, she could not do so without bringing the War down on Shirou's head and ensuring that he could never return to Fuyuki without consequences. This was the place where her love had been raised and she owed it to him to ensure that he could remain here.
Artoria regarded the Second Owner in front of her and came to a realization. Shirou was potentially powerful, but not necessarily a threat to Tokiomi with the right mindset. He wanted to train his genius daughter and here was a ready-made rival for her to push herself against. Could he be guided to consider that course of action and maintain peace with Shirou for Rin's sake? It was a gamble, but she had little choice. "He has one hundred and eight Magic Circuits of admirable quality, though he lacks any sort of Magic Crest. Even the Rin I recall from the Fifth Holy Grail War did not possess such raw potential, and she bore her line's crest by that time. Her own growth was somewhat limited by her isolation in that World, though, so that may not be an absolute comparison." Artoria finally answered, the reason for her hesitation now obvious.
Tokiomi's expression was one of shock. Not only from the number of Magic Circuits stated that dwarfed Rin's forty, but from the hints dropped regarding his daughter's future. His thought process derailed, the Second Owner elected to simply move at a brisk pace into the room where Shirou lay to verify Artoria's claim. Rather than let the man into the room alone with Shirou, Artoria stayed near Tokiomi and also entered while the group followed as far as the hallway outside the bedroom. Tokiomi repeated the spell which Artoria had cast before and lines of green glowed across Shirou's body as the Magus analyzed the child. Tokiomi's eyes widened in realization and stared down at the boy as the action made Shirou stir.
The orphan grumbled gently as he opened his golden eyes. He squinted, still unaccustomed to the influx of data. Shirou could see the energy flowing through the arm touching his chest, the form and history of the Magic Crest implanted in the arm, and even of the man who stood beside him. The look on the man's face was confusing to the slowly waking child. Shirou raised an arm to rub his eyes. "...nnmm...Mister Tohsaka? Saber? What happened? Everything looks funny..."
Risei saw how troubled Tokiomi was and spoke from outside the room. "Tokiomi?" The Magus in question looked back to Risei and regained his poise.
"Pure Eyes. Three types of Mystic Eyes; one of which is hard to detect, unknown, and inactive. One hundred and eight Magic Circuits...EX-ranked." That last detail made Risei's and Boudica's eyes widen slightly. For the ignorant Kariya's sake, Tokiomi decided to elaborate. "I shan't be able to give you an exact idea of scale, Kariya Matou, but Mage Families tend to seek out either optimal quantity of circuits or optimal quality. Both increase the effective power of a Mage. It takes many generations for either to be developed to a respectable measure. To find both maximized to this degree by chance in an orphan is akin to finding one of the largest diamonds on Earth on the sidewalk and learning that it was abandoned by its previous owners." The analogy of the child being 'owned' didn't sit well with Kariya since he knew it was how Mages thought, but Tokiomi looked back to Shirou before Kariya could protest.
The boy was let up to sit on the edge of the bed, looking at objects and people in the room with fascination. He was literally seeing the world in a new way. The initial shock which had rendered him unconscious seemed to die down. Tokiomi regarded the child carefully before kneeling down to his level to speak with him again. "Your eyes changed into something more powerful, Shirou. Tell me...what do you see?"
Shirou was a bit confused but looked around at everyone. "...Your arm's got something funny in it, there are wriggly things all through Mister Matou, and there's things on Father Kotomine's arm...but it's different from your arm. The Father's got something more like what we have on our hands."
Tokiomi listened carefully to this, taking careful note. "I see. My Magic Crest is in my arm and Father Kotomine bears additional Command Seals on his, though I can't truly speak to the remainder of what you have seen."
Mystic Eyes were generally able to influence the world in a manner similar to Magecraft by manifesting an effect when used. An analytical Mystic Eye didn't seem particularly powerful by comparison, but it was several overlapping types together. Who knew what it could do? That was without even considering the boy's Magic Circuits. After thinking for a moment, the man stood from his stooping position and looked at the blonde girl. "Saber," Tokiomi asked of her, "what did you mean by Rin's 'isolation'?"
The gears in his mind were clearly turning and Artoria knew she had him. Just one more push... "I am not aware of the details leading to this isolation, but I do know that her father and mother were nowhere to be seen and had been gone since she was young. She referred to Kirei Kotomine as her teacher and guardian, but the relationship between the two was in no way favorable. Though possessing ample potential and a tactical mind, she was ill-prepared for the Holy Grail War. She only survived due to a defensive strategy, allying with my Master at the time, and could only be said to have come out of the War as 'the least grievously wounded' of the two survivors...neither of whom would have survived had my own Master not sacrificed his life at the end to help halt the Greater Grail's manifestation."
Silence met these words. Few knew that Kirei Kotomine would have been Tokiomi's choice for taking care of Rin had he and Aoi died, and Kirei certainly was going to be responsible for teaching her Magecraft in such a situation. That lent support to Artoria's words. The 'tactical mind' was also something that compelled Tokiomi to believe that this Saber Servant knew his child. Rin's future self was alone, save for an estranged guardian, and was ill-prepared to fight. In time, Tokiomi came to a decision. "This boy...is something even a millennium-old family would be envious of producing. It would be foolish of me to reject the cultivation of such potential." The true reason, however, was not purely altruistic. The man was a Magus, after all, and his own line stood to benefit if Rin had a friend or ally in the boy later down the line.
The Second Owner of Fuyuki regarded Saber, granting the woman a nod. He left the room, a resolute Artoria behind him, and a confused Shirou standing up to follow. "The boy is welcome to continue living in Fuyuki. Moreover, you may both temporarily stay in my home so long as you do not act against me in the war. There may or may not come a point at the end at which you will have to face my own Servant to conclude the War, but I will not harm the boy. My wish for the Grail to answer, to reach the Root, does not require any harm to come to him. Are we agreed?"
Artoria looked to the man, pondering for a moment as they re-entered the main room of the church. The idea of tolerating Gilgamesh soured things, but what choice did she have? She soon decided that it was Shirou's best option. "Then so long as your Servant neither harms my Master nor seeks a wish that would make him suffer or perish, I am not opposed to this arrangement. Know this, however. I may not seek the Grail, but I am not one to bow my head to the executioner's blade. Should the time come for us to fight, then fight I shall. If the Grail is indeed corrupt as my memories suggest the possibility of, that time may come sooner than later for the sake of the World." This implied that the Servant had been listening when they confronted the Einzbern representative and had heard the rather suspicious denial on their part. It also implied that Saber and Shirou might just be further empowered by the Counter Force if on the side of human survival during this conflict.
Tokiomi nodded, fine with these concessions as long as one point was made clear. "I do not wish to insult a Heroic Spirit by demanding they yield without a fight, Saber. But if you must fight my Servant and manage to win in the end, I still get my wish so long as the Grail is not corrupt. Given that you are an extra servant beyond the main seven, it might not even be necessary. Nor do I want Shirou to suffer. There is something of which I would like to inquire though..." Tokiomi looked to Berserker and her Master.
"Kariya Matou," Tokiomi started while he was still thinking of it, "your wish. What do you seek to save Sakura from?"
Kariya's expression turned to a bit of anger, making his face ripple almost imperceptibly. "When I give the Grail to Zouken, Sakura can be freed from the Matous. She won't need to suffer from the family 'training' anymore."
"Free her...why would you sabotage my daughter's happy future for your wish? Do you seek to be the Matou heir again after abandoning the role?" Tokiomi asked with restrained irritation, puzzled by Kariya's words.
"W-what? No, I don't want that! But what do you mean her 'happy future'?" Kariya asked, with even more confusion. His eyes regarded Tokiomi with clear surprise. With this prompting, Tokiomi began to clarify.
"All mages who have two children eventually suffer for it. The family's secret arts can only be passed to one child, while the other must be cast down into the common masses." Kariya's eyes widened and he looked upon Tokiomi with stunned surprise. "The simple fact is that my wife is superior breeding stock. Rin and Sakura were born with equally rare natural gifts and magical abilities. They were both in need of the protection and nurturing attention of a Mage Family. For the future of one daughter, I must waste the vast potential lurking deep inside the other? What father would wish such a woeful fate upon his children?"
Kariya kept staring blankly and Boudica began to glare as Tokiomi continued. "If I was to preserve the hopes I had for both sisters' abilities, my only option would be to send one away. That is why the Matou Family's offer was such a godsend. If she were to be adopted by a Mage Family, it would give her that much greater a chance of reaching the Root. Even before a mage embraces his destiny, his responsibility to do so is in his blood. That is what it means to be born the child of a mage. If I fail, it falls to my daughter, Rin. And even if Rin fails in her quest, then Sakura may yet fulfill the dream of the Tohsaka Family."
"You...you want them to fight each other? Sister against Sister?" Kariya managed as he stared at Tokiomi. His uncontrolled anger impulses caused by the worms harming his brain were repaired by Artoria's healing for the moment, so he stayed stunned as he looked to Tokiomi...
"Even if such a development were to come to pass, it is still best for the future of my descendants. Glory will go to the victor. And to the loser, honor to the family of her forebears. The best outcome I could possibly hope for-"
Boudica strode forward and smacked Tokiomi down into a pew with what was a hard slap to the face by human standards, though it was minimal to a Servant. It was a good thing that her Mad Enhancement couldn't take hold to do worse. Shirou stumbled back in surprise as the sound of the attack echoed through the place of worship, Artoria taking a protective position in front of the child. The Berserker-class Servant began to yell at the man she'd struck. "Do you know what hell Sakura has been through? I've seen it! Those hours in that basement pit being eaten alive by worms for hours a day, her sanity strained and her chastity gone!" Berserker cried out in a roar, "That is the best outcome you could hope for? You only draw breath now because killing you would make her cry more! I shed the blood of my enemies and cursed their names when my daughters suffered even one facet of the fate you surrendered yours to!"
Tokiomi struggled from his undignified position, tasting blood in his mouth as he listened to the servant which was close to taking his life. When he realized what she was saying, however, his eyes widened. "...Eaten? Chastity? What is she talking about, Matou?" That question from Tokiomi shocked Berserker out of her rage. Master and Servant looked to each other before looking back to the Second Owner of Fuyuki.
"Did you...really surrender Sakura without learning what the Matou Magecraft is?" Kariya asked, eyes narrowing on the man.
Tokiomi regained his poise, looking at Kariya and Berserker with more consideration. "It researches insect familiars as well as the efficient transfer of energy. They also employ artificial Magic Crests and developed the Command Seal from that, allowing for effects nearing True Magic such as teleportation of Servants. The fact they could pass their Magic Crest to Sakura without a blood relation was the fact that made it so attractive." Tokiomi explained what he knew, which was all technically correct but woefully incomplete.
Kariya wordlessly rolled up his sleeve and showed his arm to Tokiomi. The face of the Matou Family's wayward son contorted in pain and his teeth clenched. Tokiomi was confused until a bug ate its way out of Kariya's arm and crawled out of the wound. The worm then grew wings and took off, hovering in place next to Kariya like a hummingbird. "That is a Blade Wing Worm. An evolution of the same Crest Worms that have eaten their way into Sakura's body to act as a Magic Crest. Matou Magecraft isn't taught to the mind...it's carved into the body!" Tokiomi flinched at the implications, not missing the rippling of something under Kariya's cheek. Now he knew just what the 'wriggly' things Shirou saw inside the Matou's body were.
"Our family head...enjoyed hearing her cry and scream when he started her 'training'. Now she just lays there unresponsive while the worms..." Kariya's fist clenched at his side, leaving the remainder unsaid. "He loves torturing us because we're not mages to him. We're his experiments! His prana storage tanks to keep him going until he gets his precious immortality!" Kariya started to shout at Tokiomi who stared wide-eyed. "Sakura hasn't learned a single spell in the year she's been in his care! She's worse than a 'common person', she's just cattle he'll eventually breed to make more cattle! That's why I left! I wanted the Matou Magecraft to die! But you had to go throw Sakura to the wolves!"
"But why would Zouken Matou do such a thing?" Tokiomi inquired, his mind trying to make sense of what he was hearing. He wanted to reject such insinuations, but Kariya having the worm escape his flesh in such a manner was rather convincing.
"Because he wants to live forever, not to hand his work to the next generation. We exist to provide energy to sustain him and to satisfy his sadism. Nothing else. For goodness sake, he threw my sister-in-law to the worm pit and had her fully consumed just because Shinji was born without enough Magic Circuits! He's a murderer!" Kariya noted how troubled Tokiomi looked. Good. He was paying attention. "I fight to free Sakura of that suffering, even though the worms will eventually kill me whether I win or lose! I may have stood aside and respected it when Aoi chose you, but that doesn't mean I can just ignore Sakura's suffering because of your misguided ambitions! If I win, I expect you to take better care of her when I'm gone! Do you hear me?"
"Mister Matou!" Artoria approached to intercede, putting a hand on the man's cheek and using healing Magecraft on him. The man calmed as the damage from the discussion was healed, thankfully not needing Avalon-scale intervention this time. Even the wound on his arm healed as he stood over Tokiomi, breathing heavily. Once this was done, the woman looked at Tokiomi with a stoic and appraising look, stepping forward and healing his face the same way. "...It will not do for either of you to leave the Church wounded and appearing to have violated the rules of this conflict. Nor will it do for you to fight when you both want the best for the child's future. May we at least agree on that before the worms in his brain stimulate Mister Matou to further rage? Perhaps we may continue this discussion when you have calmed yourselves and we aren't being heard by the innocent ears of the young?" A look at Artoria's face would allow no argument, even if it was phrased as a question.
"...If what Kariya Matou and Berserker tell me is true...I...I need to verify this." Tokiomi rose from his unintended position on the pew as he adjusted his shirt, and once more narrowly recovered his progressively rattled poise. "I have a taxi waiting outside. They may not be traditional, but they are important for moving swiftly in this modern world. We can take Shirou to my home for now. I will be in touch with you, Kariya Matou."
"...Very well." The flaxen-haired King nodded. With this acknowledged and cooler heads prevailing at the moment, Artoria said her goodbyes to the pair who had aided them. "Thank you both, Mister Matou. Berserker. Perhaps I should exchange numbers with you to maintain contact?" Artoria pulled out a smartphone and turned it on, opening her contacts as Merlin had taught her to do. The others stared.
"What is that?" Kariya asked, stunned at the device. Artoria soon noticed that everyone was staring and she felt a bit self-conscious. Had she erred somehow?
"This is my telephone. I was told that this was technology contemporary to within a quarter of a century and that it was enhanced with Magecraft to work in any era with a telephone system. You do have telephones, do you not?" Artoria wondered what was wrong. Merlin had been clear that it would work without issue.
"A-ah, I don't have a portable one or a car phone, but I have a landline at home. It's a good idea to exchange numbers. I think Berserker will want to share recipes with Shirou." Kariya said, getting over his surprise.
Risei stepped forward as well. "I can provide this Church's number as well. Communication via familiar has its place, but telephones have their own convenience. Please let me know if the child is rescued. She will need the blessings and guidance of the Almighty."
"Even the Servants are using technology now..." Tokiomi said, shaking his head. Still, the device's screen and complexity were something he noted with hidden interest. A portable version of his own devices would be convenient. He wondered just what sort of Magecraft would emulate or improve such a thing. That might be a worthwhile distraction from the revelations presented today until he could act upon them.
Einzbern Castle, Germany
211 hours and 30 minutes to Zero
Old Man Acht was not pleased. First, the Supervisor at Fuyuki Church called a meeting at 10 AM local time, not caring that it was 3 AM in Germany. They then learned that the foolish Master and his Caster Servant were confounding the war, causing it to be focused more on them. He'd hoped that more Masters and Servants would dispatch each other before his own forces even arrived, but that wasn't as effective a tactic under these circumstances. Then they had the gall to gang up and inquire as to if his efforts had corrupted the Grail simply because of an errant Servant's word! All in all, it was thirty minutes of wasted time.
Oh, the corruption was present. Acht simply didn't care. He was confident that it wouldn't hinder his family's wish for the Third Magic since it wasn't an earthly wish. All the Einzberns had to do was win and it would be a moot point. Then they could focus on purifying the Grail. Sadly, the other two mage families the Einzberns were cursed to rely on might not see it that way and could try to enact their own measures. No, he had to ensure that the claim of corruption was not believed. Not even by his own representatives.
It was also advantageous to have Lancer be the Einzberns' Servant. If she attained her obvious wish to prevent her Kingdom's fall, it would merely make an Alternate World deviating from early medieval Britannia rather than altering this one. The negative consequences the Grail could cause granting her wish would ultimately be shunted to that realm instead of this one.
Yes, the man thought as he looked out a window into the moonlit winter night. Staying the course was the best possible action. Just the same though, he might want to send some extra homunculi to Fuyuki to secure the Ryudou Temple area and ensure that no one tried to tamper with the Greater Grail's Chamber in their haste. They had no surviving monks at the Shrine strong enough to resist a little hypnotic suggestion...
Ride to Tohsaka Mansion, Japan
208 hours to Zero
The past little while had been interesting, to say the least. Tokiomi Tohsaka had made the rounds to the Police Station, the Courthouse, Shirou's school, and the orphanage. Artoria and Shirou watched as the man used a little Magecraft-borne hypnotic suggestion to gain their compliance and cooperation. Artoria now had identification and a driver's license as Elise Watson, A warrant for Ryuunosuke Uryuu's arrest would be out within the hour, Shirou was labeled as one of his victims and placed in Tokiomi's temporary care, and Shirou's absence from school was taken care of. They even got the support of the orphanage and some of Shirou's personal items while also relieving the staff by informing them that the child that had not come home last night was okay. They then stopped at a store and purchased a catcher's mitt to cover Shirou's Command Seals which paired nicely with Artoria's baseball bat weapon. They also purchased a pair of thin gloves for more general use than the catcher's mitt, some baseballs for more believably, and two pairs of sunglasses to cover Shirou's Mystic Eyes and to help conceal Artoria's identity further. To any random person on the street, they were a girl and a younger boy out to play baseball.
There was also a surprise waiting for them at the store which Tokiomi had to unexpectedly take care of. Said surprise was currently sitting to Artoria's left in the taxi's rear seat. He had his elbow on the arm rest, the car window rolled down, and was simply enjoying the wind on his face. His unexpected inclusion had necessitated a sunglasses-wearing Shirou to sit on the woman's lap for the ride back to the mansion. Tokiomi did not let his poise fall, but he was glad the cab driver was so easily suggestible with Magecraft as to ignore the imminent conversation.
"My King," Tokiomi inquired from the front passenger seat, "might I inquire as to why you were in that situation?" He did not allow critique to enter his voice, lest Gilgamesh take it as an insult.
The blonde-haired man answered in his own time, enjoying the afternoon sun and wind on his face. "I laid claim to a small chariot and indulged in a morning ride. The local garrison approached me and claimed I had broken the law. I informed them that my will was law, but they did not accept my words. Such impudence to not know their King." This made Tokiomi shudder a bit on the inside, but Gilgamesh continued. "The pursuit they attempted was entertaining enough, but they failed to catch me. I returned to your humble estate, consumed some confections, grew bored again, and went back out. I entered that establishment, sought some modern clothing, and there we met." In short, it had been a close call. Only Gilgamesh's playful mood had prevented a bloodbath with local law enforcement.
"Now a question for you, Tokiomi. Who might this odd pairing of Master and Servant in my presence be? Is this related to your meeting in that place of worship?" Gilgamesh turned his head and regarded the pair with what appeared to be indifference, though his eyes lingered on them for a moment of extra consideration. Artoria held Shirou more firmly, not willing to let him be a plaything of the King of Heroes.
"The boy is named Shirou Enjou. He is an orphan who was attacked last night by a serial killer and his blood was used to make a magic circle to summon Caster, who we believe to be the insane Bluebeard aspect of Gilles de Rais. Saber, who is the one holding Shirou, also appeared so as to intercede and keep the child from being killed." Tokiomi began to summarize the points that Gilgamesh needed to know, trying not to make it too long an explanation for his liking.
"Caster is obsessed with Saber, mistakenly believing her to be Jeanne d'Arc and making her an effective bait for him. The Supervisor desires for us to prioritize Caster and his Master's defeat before things get out of hand, the victorious party earning another Command Seal. I should also mention that neither Shirou nor Saber have an interest in laying their hands upon your Grail and are an eighth team in this war beyond the normal seven. I've taken them under my protection in exchange for non-aggression on their part for the early stages of the war. There are other details, but I do not wish to bore you with trifles."
Gilgamesh directed a disinterested glance toward Tokiomi. "Then don't. If they aren't relevant at the moment then I don't particularly care." He then regarded the two next to him again. "Just know that the Grail is already mine. If you attempt to claim it for yourself, I will pass my judgment on you like the rest of the mongrels grasping for my treasures."
Artoria nodded warily at Gilgamesh before responding. "We have no desire for the Grail. If it should be corrupted, however, it may need to be destroyed lest it pollute the whole of the World." This comment made Gilgamesh regard her for a further moment.
"Tokiomi, what is she going on about?" The King asked, half in boredom but half in curiosity.
"Saber bears a memory of a previous summoning where the Grail was corrupted by an Avenger-class Servant known as Angra Mainyu. She claims that any wish made to the corrupted Grail was granted in as destructive and as futile a manner as possible. The Einzberns' family head claims that the Grail is not currently corrupted, though." Tokiomi said, concerned at Gilgamesh' response.
"So she recalls some filthy mongrel tainting my Grail. Which accounting do you subscribe to?" Gilgamesh inquired of his Master, bearing an expression of vague displeasure.
"The Einzberns are the main authority on the Grail's inner workings and would certainly know one way or the other, but their refusal was a bit too swift and insistent for my tastes. Saber's account also makes logical sense to me and the Supervisor, as a being such as Caster couldn't manifest if the Grail were working normally. I intend to act largely as planned until we can directly verify the status of the Grail. To do otherwise may compromise our position in the War or needlessly draw the suspicion of the Einzberns, putting us at a disadvantage whichever tale is true." Gilgamesh did not respond to Tokiomi's response. This likely meant that he wasn't happy about the matter, but found himself agreeing with the measures for the moment.
When they arrived at the Tohsaka Residence and got out of the taxi, the group happened upon the vehicle Gilgamesh had stolen. Shirou got a happy look on his face and bounded over to the vehicle excitedly before reading some text on its side. He then quickly got some money out of his school bag and happily held it up.
"I'd like a vanilla Lion Pop, please!" Artoria was simply dumbstruck and looked to the amused King of Heroes. What surprised Artoria more was when Gilgamesh accepted the money, opened the vehicle's cooled compartment, and gave Shirou the treat he desired. "Thank you!" The child said politely before starting to eat the pilfered gains from the three-wheeled "Lion Pop" ice cream scooter.
"You escaped from local law enforcement with this? I was not aware you possessed the Riding Skill, King of Heroes." Artoria stated, slightly surprising the Servant in question.
"At least you recognize your King on sight. A shame more do not. However, I do possess the Riding Skill. My Vimana is not merely for show." Artoria recalled its use in a dogfight against Berserker Lancelot's stolen fighter jet and realized that this was likely true. "This scooter is far too slow for me to truly enjoy myself. I believe I will seek something more powerful next time. It is a shame more do not come stocked with this frozen confection...Tokiomi," Gilgamesh said, looking to his in-name-only Master, "I insist that you obtain more diverse examples of this 'ice cream' confection for my Gate of Babylon."
"It shall be done, My King." Tokiomi bowed in deference. "Do you have any preferences in flavor?"
"Raspberry, Vanilla, Strawberry, Chocolate, and Butter Pecan. If I should find any of that fake Licorice flavor amongst my supply, though..." Gilgamesh threatened vaguely.
"Understood. I will see to it." The magus didn't need to be told anything else.
"If you have access to it, Mister Tohsaka, a vehicle of some sort would make it easier to respond to Caster and hunt him down. I have the Riding Skill as well, so even if it's something basic to get to the sites of his crimes faster and easy to replace, I can drive us there." Artoria was aware that the Tohsaka weren't made of money to purchase such things, but it was a request that seemed important to make. Her old Yamaha V-Max had served her well until Lancelot destroyed it.
"You would ask Tokiomi for such a thing when the solution is right in front of you, Saber?" Gilgamesh said, smirking a bit as he gestured to the vehicle before them. Artoria was more than a bit surprised and a little embarrassed that he would imply that she ride such a thing. Even if the cartoon lion drawn on the side of the white vehicle was adorable. "Surely one with the Riding class can make use of such a fine vehicle from her King's inventory." He was clearly messing with her, especially considering that he had just denounced the vehicle as sub-par.
"W-well, it would do...it just did not seem proper to impose upon your generosity to excess." She managed to state, finding it profoundly difficult to swallow her pride for this man. One more concession for Shirou's sake. The child finished his ice cream and gave a satisfied and oblivious sigh. Gilgamesh simply gave a smirk as he phased through the wall of the residence with a timely use of Spirit Form to enter at his leisure. With that, Gilgamesh had essentially assigned Artoria to deal with the Caster issue alone and drafted Tokiomi to handle the incidental details. Not that Artoria was unwilling to hunt that monster down.
Tokiomi looked like he wanted to apologize for his Servant's conduct, but dare not do so while Gilgamesh was likely still listening. Instead, he opened the door to his home and allowed Artoria and Shirou access. The former carried Shirou's things in a single suitcase. "My family and staff have vacated the house and are staying elsewhere for their own safety for the duration of the war. There is an unused room upstairs that you can stay in. Please follow me." Tokiomi led them up the stairs and took them to a room which hadn't seen use in quite some time. It was, none the less, quite clean. The room's wallpaper was lilac in color and its floor was that of hard wood. "This...was my daughter Sakura's room until about a year ago. You may sleep in here, Shirou, but please respect this space."
Shirou couldn't really tell what was going on, but Sakura's name filled him with an urge to protect that he couldn't really understand. The discussion from earlier was somewhat over his head, but she was in danger. That much was clear. The boy turned to Tokiomi and spoke. "She's the one Mister Matou's going to save, right? I'll sleep on the floor. Then she can have the bed when she comes back!"
Tokiomi gave Shirou a sad but appreciative smile. "That is gentlemanly of you, Shirou. We may make alternate plans if that happens, but you may use the bed for now. I insist." While they spoke, Artoria carefully placed Shirou's suitcase at the foot of the bed. She listened carefully and kept herself aware of Gilgamesh's location in the house as Tokiomi continued to speak. "I will also look into teaching you how to control your Mystic Eyes. That is what we call the power that you've unlocked to see things. While we might be able to obtain glasses to help you control them, they are expensive and the one best suited for creating them received a sealing designation some years ago."
While Tokiomi pondered how best to contact Touko Aozaki without attracting her younger sister's attention, Shirou took a look at the full-length mirror in the room and removed the sunglasses he wore. His eyes were steadily glowing gold in the center and a lighter yellow at the edges. He analyzed himself as best as light reflecting from the mirror would allow him to, though this limited the information he received. "They're cool!" Shirou exclaimed in approval at the glowing eyes.
"They are appealing, Master," Artoria said while smiling, "but they also make you stand out. Those who do not understand them will be fearful of their light. Those who do understand them may try to use you for their own ends. It is best if you learned to hide them and only call upon their power when no one is watching." Artoria's comment made sense to Shirou on some level and he gave a gentle shudder. The child started imagining Caster's Master using a knife to cut out and steal his eyes, but he shook the thought from his mind.
Tokiomi nodded gently in agreement. "Well said, Saber. Come. My workshop is in the basement. I will conduct your first lessons in regulating your new powers there." Shirou and Artoria left the room with their host and were soon following Tokiomi down two flights of stairs. As they moved, Artoria noticed Gilgamesh sitting on a couch in the living room with a goblet of wine in his hand. He gave Artoria a knowing smile before she vanished from sight into the basement.
Experience told her that smile was unlikely to be a good thing.