Well, continuing from the previous, it's a pleasure to know that many people have enjoyed my stories, so I've decided not to set them aside. Greetings from your friend, KaleidoMirror.

This time, I present to you Chapter 3, which is the second part of the previous published chapter, which has been revised and properly adjusted. For now, I managed to find some files, so I am formally creating Chapter 4, so keep that in mind for its future update.

Without further ado, greetings to everyone.

Months flew by in the blink of an eye, but for Rize, her previous routine had been completely upended by the presence of someone she now called a friend. A friend who, with effort and patience, had begun to heal Rize's wounded little heart. Shirou's kindness and attention were like a medicine that slowly closed the scars and eased the girl's traumas.

Shirou's company became a new light that illuminated her path and renewed her will to face the destiny that awaited her in the future. For the first time since she was seven years old, Rize experienced a time when she could feel something akin to happiness.

Thanks to Shirou, she was able to endure the grueling experiments and routine medical examinations, as well as even more inhuman training than the other children. Everything became bearable due to her friend's influence. He was always there for her, sharing his best stories whenever she asked, even allowing her to be capricious for the first time in her life. She remembered the time she ordered Shirou to use his lap as a pillow, or when she asked him to make her a flower crown. A few weeks ago, she had surprised him in his room for no apparent reason, solely out of concern, and they had played for hours without the guards noticing.

Shirou always maintained a smile on his face as he chuckled at her requests, and she treated him with childish pouts on her face, playfully hitting his chest and telling him he didn't know how to handle a girl, to which the redhead replied that Rize had no idea how right she was.

Among her new pastimes, her favorite was listening to stories and legends of ancient times. She enjoyed tales of powerful weapons, valiant warriors, and unwavering gods and goddesses with incredible and mysterious powers. She also paid attention to the dark stories about monsters, which, while not her favorites, made her question the world around her. With confusing and incomprehensible feelings, she had begun to question her existence in the world, wondering if perhaps she had been born in the wrong era.

At first, it was a challenge for her to listen to the stories Shirou shared. Each tale was like a journey into the past, a window into dreams and naive illusions that had perished within her. All these narratives were laden with emotions and feelings that Rize now considered mere fantasies, signs of weakness that had been eradicated from her being. She even got into a fight with Shirou once after hearing the story of a boy who wanted to be a hero, a defender of justice, but due to his mistakes, was betrayed by his ideals and died alone.

At that moment, Shirou's smile disappeared completely, but his eyes reflected a calm acceptance of that sad outcome. Filled with anger, Rize attacked him with one of her tentacles and fled from him.

She thought she had made a mistake by trusting someone again and that Shirou was no different from the others. However, that night, in her room, Shirou, injured in one arm and with a nervous smile, surprised her. She tried to escape using her tentacles, but he was faster and encircled her waist. In her attempt to free herself, she lost control of her tentacles and accidentally struck Shirou's head, causing a bleeding wound.

Feeling guilty, all the anger and betrayal she had felt earlier faded away, leaving room for guilt and regret.

"Shirou, I... I'm sorry," she muttered as she watched the blood trickle down. "I didn't mean to hurt you. You must let me go. I don't deserve your attention or affection."

"It's my fault, Rize, for not allowing myself to finish my story," Shirou responded with determination.

Rize watched as Shirou's eyes changed, taking on a dark hue that then filled with determination.

"You should know that the boy who survived the fiery hell had a chance to change his destiny by refusing to give up on his ideals and saving all the people important to him," Shirou said with melancholy. "At the end of his life, he didn't become a hero, but he gained something more, something that changed him."

"And what was that?" Rize asked with curiosity and nervousness, as she saw Shirou's eyes glow with a golden color.

"The warmth of a family," Shirou replied with a satisfied smile.

Despite her doubts, Rize decided to believe in Shirou. The smile that appeared on the boy's face at the end of his story deeply moved her and, for a moment, made her glimpse a strange image in her heart: a family. It was an unfamiliar concept to her, but perhaps, someday, she would be able to attain it.

Over time, among all the stories Shirou told her, there was one in particular that stirred strange conflicting emotions in Rize and a vague sense of nostalgia.

It was the tale of a myth recounting the misfortune of a young woman who suffered a terrible fate due to an unjust punishment imposed by a goddess of war. The young woman's sin stemmed from the uncontrollable lust of a sea god who, in the worst possible manner, stole her purity in one of the temple rooms she used to care for and protect. As punishment, she was condemned to live as a beast, driven by her primitive instincts, in an oceanic cavern on a remote island from which she could not escape until the end of her days. There, she would be tortured and punished for the weight of her sins, only to be ultimately slain by a hero blessed by the same goddess she once worshiped.

The former priestess, now transformed into a bloodthirsty monster filled with hatred toward humanity, was joined on that island by her older sisters, who decided to share in her divine punishment in the name of their bond and love for her. In the endless darkness of the cave's depths, the young woman was corrupted by the curse at a relentless pace, marking her soul and transforming her temperament into one filled with a thirst for destruction and hatred. She mercilessly killed anyone who ventured near her territory, leaving mountains of corpses and shipwreck debris as a warning to the unwary.

Over time, the legend of a monstrous being that held two beautiful maidens captive spread, leading more men and heroes to venture forth in search of testing their luck and proving their valor. The coveted reward was to slay the beast and claim the hand in marriage of the two captive maidens, a desire that only fueled the growing list of victims.

But like all stories, this one had an ending too. In the final moments of her life, the young woman, now completely transformed into a bloodthirsty monster, lamented the injustice and cruelty of the world towards her. Bearing the guilt of having devoured her older sisters the moment she lost her sanity, she realized that she had lost what she held most dear and had fought so hard to protect. However, there was no salvation left for her in eternity.

What the young woman didn't know was that, after her death, from her blood was born a pure, white being that represented the state of her soul when she still retained her innocence and dreams for the world. This being radiated a naivety and kindness like no other young woman before being cursed. After its birth, it neighed and ascended to the heavens, becoming the other face of that tragic tale.

A year had passed, and Rize's life had undergone a profound change thanks to Shirou's constant presence. The kindness and attention he showered upon her were virtues she had never experienced before. This new experience had made her uncomfortable at first, keeping her guard up, but with the passage of time and Shirou's unwavering attentiveness, Rize began to trust him completely.

At the age of eight, Rize had endured immense suffering in the Garden, but she had also matured significantly. Shirou became an excellent teacher, guiding her with his questions about the mysteries of life. This interaction further deepened the bond between them, a relationship that evolved with each shared moment. For the first time in her life, Rize placed full trust in someone and understood the meaning of the word "friends."

Despite all the positive changes in Rize's short life, her deepest fears and insecurities still lurked deep within her, those that she had tried unsuccessfully to forget for so long. The mere thought that her life could end in a sad and solitary way had become increasingly difficult to conceal behind her facade of normality whenever she spoke with her friend Shirou. Perhaps he had realized it by now, but with maturity and kindness, he had never made any comments about it. Nevertheless, Shirou's words and actions conveyed the message that he would wait as long as necessary for her.

Making a decision about it wasn't easy for Rize. Many things could change in the relationship they shared now: he was her first friend, her confidant, and her teacher. These titles were precious to her, and the fear and insecurity that gnawed at her every day were growing. In the past, due to her loneliness and the lack of someone to trust, she might have chosen a path that led to her own downfall. But now, Shirou's presence represented the opportunity to finally be heard, to receive the attention and understanding that no one had ever given her before.

Paradoxically, this very reason had triggered a change in her thoughts, one she hadn't fully realized yet.

"Shirou will always be with me... right?"

He had promised her this a couple of weeks ago when he told her a strange story about a white girl who used to live in an ancient castle in the middle of a winter snowstorm and a dark knight, the father of that white girl, who could never rescue her. At the end of the story, the boy was adopted by the dark knight, who vowed to save the girl instead of his adoptive father, the man who had raised him to become the hero the dark knight could never be in life.

During that story, Shirou showed a side that Rize had never seen before. His golden eyes filled with tangible sadness and pain, which broke something inside her. She watched as a couple of tears briefly escaped from his eyes. Shirou, in an ambiguous manner, tried to excuse his childish behavior, suggesting that maybe he was just more tired than usual, but his voice was shaky and lacked its usual warmth.

It was something Rize couldn't resist, and she ended up embracing Shirou tightly, trapping him in her embrace while he didn't understand why she was suddenly crying.

"Rize, what's wrong? Why are you suddenly crying?" Shirou asked with concern.

Rize ignored Shirou's question and allowed more tears to run down her cheeks, soaking Shirou's white robe.

"Forgive me, Rize, I..." Shirou's words were interrupted when Rize's small hand took his.

"You know, we've known each other for over two years, but it's only now that I've seen something beyond your usual calm and kind expression," Rize said softly as she continued to hold Shirou's hands.

"Rize, what are you talking about?" Shirou asked, his other free hand also caught by Rize.

"When we're not together, you always have an expression that's hard to understand. I can describe it as empty and even stoic. But now, I can say that my suspicions have been confirmed," Rize continued, her voice gentle. "We're both very much alike, but at the same time, we're so different. You've always shown yourself to be strong and capable, but it seems you've lost your way in life. I, on the other hand, am weak, someone who had resigned herself never to trust anyone again, someone who had resigned herself to not having control over her own future."

With her head still resting on Shirou's chest, Rize raised her gaze slightly, some strands of her long hair releasing a delicate aroma.

"That's where you're mistaken!" Shirou exclaimed softly. "To be honest, we're more alike than you imagine. I'm not as strong or capable as you think. I've been through many things in life, some sad and some happy, but I don't regret anything. I firmly believe that what I've done is right, even though that conviction is full of patches. Still, it's an ideal I will always fight for. That's my own way of being a champion of justice."

"Champion of Justice?" Rize asked with reservations, still looking at Shirou's face. "You've told me many stories, but I've never heard in-depth about that phrase."

Laughing softly, Shirou replied, "I guess I never really talked in-depth about the first story I told you, long after we met. Do you remember it?"

"I think it was a story about a boy who was the sole survivor of a fiery hell, right?" Rize recalled in a soft whisper.

"You're absolutely right," Shirou nodded. "I wasn't clear enough at that time, but I think now is the perfect time to talk about it." Gently cradling Rize in his arms, he held her as she rested her head on his chest.

On a full moon night, two individuals were enjoying each other's company as they gazed upon the nocturnal celestial body in all its splendor. Both were seated in the comfort of the outdoors of an ancient Japanese mansion, close to each other, as if it were a custom they had established in recent weeks.

The relationship between them hadn't started in the best way, but over time, they had come to enjoy each other's company, forming what they called the "Emiya small family." However, that night would mark the beginning of a legend, as the gears of destiny began to turn.

"Ever since I was a child, I always dreamed of being a champion of justice, even aspiring to become one," the older man expressed, weariness in his voice, as his eyes became lost in the full moon.

The young red-haired one looked at him confused and asked, "What do you mean by that? Did you aspire to be a hero but gave it up?"

"Yes, unfortunately, trying to be a hero is a difficult task when one becomes an adult. It would have been better if I had realized that sooner," Kiritsugu sighed as he lowered his gaze, something he rarely did.

"I see, there's nothing that could be done in that case," Shirou responded with a gentle voice.

"You're right," Kiritsugu conceded. "There's not much that can be done about it."

With conviction in his voice, the red-haired one added, "Well... in that case, how about switching places with me?"

"Hmm..."

"Currently, you're an adult, Kiritsugu. It might be impossible for you, but it'll be okay if it's me, right? So you can rest assured, leave your dream in my hands, and I'll make sure to make it come true." Having released his thoughts without hesitation for an instant, the sincerity with which Shirou spoke was conveyed in his gaze.

"I see," Kiritsugu smiled at his adoptive son's offer. "I'm at ease."

Those were the last words of their conversation that night. The conversation between a young man who had survived a childhood tragedy and a man who had once been a mage killer, united by destiny, had been profound and meaningful. Although they were very different, they shared an undeniable similarity: both had faced adversity and lost a lot in life.

Unbeknownst to him, that moment would mark the beginning of an seemingly impossible ideal.

Shirou had reached the end of his dream, emerging amidst a desert wasteland with countless swords resting among the sand dunes. For a long time, he had walked under a constant rain of confusion, moving aimlessly, his shoulders hunched with the weight of uncertainty. With small, weary hands, he gathered the fragments of forgotten memories, each with its own color, in a desperate attempt to fill the void in his heart.

Throughout his journey, he had experienced love and tenderness, naively believing that he had let go of everything. However, it was these experiences that allowed him to find what he had left behind. Though destined to suffer, his heart held the hope to rise like the last glimmer of stars that represented his ideal.

He, a being rescued from ashes and turned to dust, chose to carry the fragments of his father's dreams, with the hope of one day smiling like him, like the first time they met. Despite the loneliness he felt, he knew that as long as he could protect what he firmly believed in, everything would be alright.

His heart, like a crystal with fine cracks, had not forgotten its warmth, which radiated even in the midst of the darkness of the night. His courage shone brightly, despite his loneliness and despair.

The source of that courage had been his confrontation with his future self. He wondered why he had survived the hell he had faced and why he had continued forward. Although he did not fear losing in a battle against others, he could not afford to lose to himself.

"I don't mind losing to others, but I can't lose to myself," he thought, determined not to accept a future that had not yet happened.

Despite the overwhelming difference in power and experience between him and his future self, Shirou refused to yield. "I can still move my body. The only thing you lost was your heart by accepting a future that hasn't happened yet," he told himself.

The justice of his future self was limited to doing what was right. "But I don't need any of that. I will become an ally of justice, and even if you deny me, I will use all my strength to defeat you!"

At that moment, a young woman watched the battle between two swords that represented two paths, two different futures. Both she and her young, inexperienced teacher had a dream in mind, but, like Shirou and his future self, they were right in their own ideals. Saber, in her path, got a different ending than the one she longed for, while for Shirou, the battle led him to confront his destiny and use all his strength to try to change it.

At the end of the confrontation, she was surprised to see Shirou emerge victorious, his sword piercing Archer's left side, who accepted his defeat with a determined look. However, the unexpected revelation from the previous Archer of the Fourth Holy Grail War interrupted the moment. But the three of them did not back down. After many sacrifices and a final desperate fight, in the end, Saber managed to save herself thanks to Rin's timely intervention, and with Shirou and Rin by her side, they began a new life together.

Arturia allowed herself to let go of the remorse she had carried for so long and learned to love and enjoy happiness for the first time.

So began and ended a divergence that should never have happened, but it allowed Shirou to grow and mature. In the company of Saber and Rin, two people so different but complementary to him, they decided to come together and take care of him. Although the chances of Shirou becoming Archer in the future were close to zero, they were not impossible. It was thanks to their care and love that this future never came to be. But that didn't stop the adorable fool, as Rin used to call Shirou, from pursuing his dream of becoming a hero, an ally of justice. His ideal shone beyond time, and he finally managed to gather the fragments of his father's dream, making it shine eternally.

At the end of the story, both of them were enveloped in a mutual silence. Shirou had shared his life sincerely with Rize, albeit subtly, as it was hard to imagine that someone of his age, a young boy just a little over ten years old, had lived through such experiences. Moreover, considering his origin as the unrecognized son of the current Head of the Washuu Clan in this world, the possibility of sharing these secrets was even more remote.

However, for Shirou, this new life had taken an unexpected turn. He had never socialized beyond what was strictly necessary with other people before, let alone shared his thoughts and experiences so openly and sincerely as he was with Rize. He was revealing some of his deepest secrets to someone he had barely known for just over two years. If Rin were to find out about this, he wasn't sure how to face the likely punishment he would receive.

From the moment he first met Rize, he felt something in her that was both different and familiar. It was a strange and hard-to-explain feeling, but for the first time in his life, Shirou was following his heart instead of his reason. That's why he had decided to share with her the meaning of being an ally of justice.

As he analyzed Rize's gaze, resting in his lap, Shirou felt a strange sense of comfort. He had broken a barrier that he had unconsciously erected from day one in this unfamiliar world. Now, he could only hope he hadn't made a mistake.

Rize, on her part, felt that her doubts about Shirou had been increasing, but she also sensed that the distance between them had shortened. In her mind, she recalled their first meeting: a little girl tempted by a scent she had never smelled before and the smile of a boy as they met for the first time in a garden of white roses. This memory was the final push she needed to decide to share one of the deepest wounds in her heart, a trauma that had left a mark of hopelessness and helplessness. For a long time, she had tried to ignore it and keep it at bay, but now, with Shirou's sincere support, she felt ready to confront it. Perhaps, just perhaps, by sharing her fears with him, a small miracle could happen.

In the dimly lit room, Rize held her heart in her hand as the thick walls and emotional chains that had imprisoned her for so long finally gave way. Her words flowed slowly, murmured with uncertainty in her voice, amidst the shadows casting an otherworldly light in the room. Rize had bared her heart to Shirou, seeking some form of support or solace in his expression. However, the lack of emotion on Shirou's face made her uncomfortable, and she lowered her gaze.

Nevertheless, she didn't stop talking, revealing every aspect of her life, her suffering, and the miserable fate she had been condemned to. At first, she looked for an anchor in Shirou's expression to continue, but the lack of emotion on his face made her feel like she was speaking in vain. Yet, the emotion behind her words was palpable; each one was laden with sadness and anguish. They were tears held back for so long, and now they flowed freely, releasing the sorrow and frustration she had kept silent for so long.

As she narrated her story, she spoke of her fears and the pain she had endured in each experiment, as well as the courage she had to display during her training. She spoke of the helplessness she had felt, of the frustration and hatred she had accumulated towards her destiny and herself. She had redirected that hatred towards her own inability to change her fate, and now, in front of Shirou, all those feelings spilled without reservation.

Shirou, listening in silence, was experiencing conflicting emotions for the first time in this life. Inside him, the ideal that defined him, his soul, was like a sword that still remained sheathed, waiting for the moment when its master decided to unsheathe it. However, now, that unparalleled blade showed signs of rust and dust accumulated in the crevices of its hilt. Despite its current state, the sword responded to Shirou's feelings when his hands clenched into fists, in a futile attempt to contain himself and plunge into the fight against the issues, as he had done so many times in the past. But he finally managed to keep his thoughts under control, tilting his head in an attempt to hide his actions from Rize's view, who still rested in his lap.

However, Rize's keen perception noticed his actions, and the feelings emanating from Shirou were more than enough for her. The sense of protection, warmth, and security that Shirou provided her with was something she had never experienced before, but now she knew it thanks to him. Upon hearing Shirou's words, which were a repetition of his first promise, she felt a glimmer of hope in the dark abyss that had been her life up to that point.

"My life doesn't need any meaning, and it probably never will," Shirou sighed with a nostalgic and suffering look as he recalled his past. However, when he turned his gaze back to Rize, his golden eyes radiated a strong and unwavering conviction. In that moment, Shirou's golden orbs met Rize's purple eyes in eloquent silence.

"But I promise you that I will never go back on my words," Shirou declared with determination. "I will show you the meaning of an ideal I promised never to forget. Because I will always forge steel on the hill of swords."

These words might have sounded like random promises to Rize, as she couldn't fully grasp the enormous and hidden meaning behind them. However, the expression on Shirou's face that night marked a turning point in her life. Rize decided to trust her friend and set aside her worries. Finally, overcome by fatigue and the stress accumulated in the past few days, she closed her eyes and slept with a smile on her face, experiencing for the first time in her life a peaceful dream free from nightmares.

Since that day, their relationship had reached a new level of trust that Rize could never have imagined. Shirou had become a unique presence in her life, a moral pillar of support, and a confidant she could rely on at any time. Although laughter had been a luxury she had never allowed herself years ago, it had now become a common part of her life. However, it seemed that fate was determined to lead her back down the path that had already been laid out, making her suffer in the worst possible way. She had tasted the gates of heaven only to fall once again into the fires of hell.

Days passed with a strange mixture of happy moments and persistent worries. Rize cherished each day spent with Shirou, enjoying the laughter and companionship they shared. However, the shadow of her past and the threats looming over her future still haunted her.

Despite it all, Shirou had become a beacon of hope in her life. He constantly reminded her of his promise to show her the meaning of an ideal, and Rize clung to those words like a lifeline in the midst of a stormy sea. Although she didn't know what obstacles still awaited them, she felt that she had someone to trust and follow.

In those moments of tranquility, when they shared everyday moments, Rize allowed herself to dream of a different future. A future where she could live without the weight of her lineage, without the shadow of her father, and without the atrocities of the Washuu Clan. She wanted to believe that there was a chance to escape that cruel fate and find happiness alongside Shirou.

However, those moments of happiness were tainted by the constant threat posed by her father and the clan. She knew she couldn't let her guard down for a second, that the fight for her freedom was far from over. And while she shared laughter and special moments with Shirou, she also wondered if she would be able to protect the happiness she had found in his company.

Fate seemed to be playing with her emotions, lifting her to the heights of hope only to then throw her into the abyss of uncertainty. But Rize had decided to hold onto Shirou's promise and to fight against her destiny. She knew it wouldn't be easy, but she also knew that she had someone by her side whom she could trust, and that made all the difference.

On that fateful day, after routine experiments, the decision was made to subject Rize to new experimental drugs and compounds in a desperate attempt to awaken the latent dragon state hidden within her. This was theoretically a risky test but deemed necessary, as it was believed that premature awakening might be possible if the right compounds were administered precisely. However, in the absence of conclusive data, the higher-ups authorized excessive doses in an attempt to yield results.

What happened next exceeded all expectations and left researchers dumbfounded. The nine-year-old girl did not exhibit the expected theoretical advances. Instead, her body entered a state of wild frenzy that resulted in the tragic deaths of two researchers and three mid-ranking security guards.

Following the violent episode, the urgent administration of temporary Rc cell suppressors was employed as an emergency measure. However, even this proved ineffective. The basic survival and feeding instincts typical of Ghouls had gone awry in her. Doctors and scientists concluded that there might be lasting effects from this incident, but at that moment, the priority was to allow the girl to naturally purge the drug residues from her system, in the hope that future experiments might be able to control these uncontrollable impulses that lay dormant within her and seemed to have awakened with insatiable voracity.

They left Rize alone in a dark room, her wrists and ankles heavily ensnared in restraints made of kagune and special alloys. In addition, excessive amounts of Rc suppressors were provisionally administered, with the hope that the adverse effects of the experimental drugs would gradually dissipate through her metabolism. The girl was imprisoned by her own body and the consequences of an experiment that had unleashed a part of her she didn't even fully understand.

On that day, the experiments Rize was subjected to reached a level of brutality that far exceeded all her previous experiences. Unable to bear the extreme threshold of pain to which she was subjected without the aid of any analgesia, the result was devastating. It was inhumane torture that persisted throughout the process, and Rize felt the degree of pain gradually escalating like a tide of unrelenting suffering.

Intermittently, she began to lose the sensation of contact with her own body. During intervals, she couldn't recognize her own body as hers, as her mind and consciousness disconnected from reality, a response to the extreme stress she was enduring. Her body reacted aggressively, entering a survival state to shield itself from the aggressive internal and external stimuli caused by the synergistic effects of the experimental drugs.

Despite being only nine years old and having a child's body, even though she was a Ghoul, Rize's self-perception began to erode as a defense mechanism against overwhelming damage to her nerve and motor terminals. Her mind attempted to shut off warning signals and synapses to protect itself from suffering, but it was futile. Doctors and scientists had anticipated the outcomes of their experiments and had administered large amounts of dopaminergics and adrenal hormones to force her to remain in that stupor state.

Rize found herself trapped in an inhumane situation, fighting with resignation and pain to maintain control over herself, although she was losing that battle. Her body grew increasingly painful due to multiple organ and systemic failures caused by the lack of blood flow. Tears in her muscle fibers and bone tissue had created areas of necrosis and rhabdomyolysis, triggering severe seizures and eventually causing her to lose consciousness. She was so weakened that she couldn't even cry out in pain; her screams were trapped in her throat.

As she lay lost in the darkness of unconsciousness, the voices of her hallucinations became increasingly clear. They started as faint whispers, but gradually turned into complete and understandable words. However, the sinister intent behind these words eventually shattered the last remnants of her will. She looked up at the apparent source of those voices and saw her own reflection emerging from the shadows: a Rize with nine long tentacles bathed in crimson and black, her long hair concealing her facial features, yet Rize could still sense immense terror as she approached closer and closer. On her body were strange, dark glyphs, and a pair of horns that had appeared on her forehead. The other Rize let out a terrifying scream before pouncing on her and beginning to devour her.

That was the final breaking point for Rize, just before being consumed by her own inner self. In her last moments of consciousness, she had a fleeting image of Shirou smiling at her, a glimmer of light in the midst of her endless nightmare.

In that dark corner of life, where misfortunes always intertwined with tragedy, an unbreakable destiny was forged.

On that day, as was the sinister custom within the depths of the organization known as "The Garden," the subjects of experimentation and trials underwent their routine weekly medical examinations. But these examinations were nothing more than a facade to conceal the horrors that awaited in the shadows: deadly and cruel training, designed to shape the young into capable soldiers, ready to be selected and sent on sinister missions under the orders of the CCG or the dreaded Sector V.

From the early days of "The Garden," there were always human casualties. Not all candidates could withstand the rigors and torments to which they were subjected. It was a necessary practice to separate the wheat from the chaff and nurture the crop of future monsters.

Among those subjects who showed special promise, a more intense regimen of training and medical experimentation awaited. The goal: to unlock their full potential. For the instructors and doctors in charge of this new generation of "The Garden," outstanding candidates had already been identified at the tender age of ten, exceptional seeds destined for important roles in the organization. But among all those children, a young red-haired boy stood out above the rest.

From birth, he had displayed astonishing physical and mental aptitude, a prodigy never before witnessed. As a result, during his first five years of life, he was set apart from the norm and handed over to a different organization. In that environment, he was pushed to the absolute limits of his endurance. The higher-ups were surprised to see him not only survive but also overcome every obstacle with unwavering determination. He was a unique specimen, and such rarity warranted exceptional treatment.

For Shirou, life had been a journey through a dark maze of hardships for as long as he could remember. From the earliest memories that formed in his mind, the shadow of adversity had relentlessly pursued him.

At the tender age of almost six years old, he emerged from a long and cruel training period, a hell that defied human understanding. He had survived countless trials, each deadlier than the last, and had done so with barely a thread of life contained within his exhausted body. But the nightmare was far from over.

In the next two years, he was subjected to relentless medical oversight, where they experimented with his psychological and physiological faculties using a variety of drugs and substances unknown to him. Despite the physical and psychological torture, he remained resolute in his determination. Finally, at the age of eight, he managed to attain relative peace and security, freed from his duties and waiting for the improvements assimilated by his young body to lead him toward an uncertain fate.

However, that peace lasted a mere four years. He was once again summoned by the superiors of "The Garden," called upon to demonstrate the progress he had made as a peculiar test subject.

A week of agony became his new reality, filled with cruel and inhuman experiments and the administration of new drugs. Endless hours where his body was pushed to the brink of sanity and health as they collected data and observed his advances. The physicians and researchers could not contain their excitement and joy at witnessing the results. The superiors were satisfied; Shirou had demonstrated an ability hidden in the latent state of a dragon, a unique and highly coveted regeneration.

It was an unparalleled capability, one that would allow him to recover from mortal wounds, no matter how severe, as long as his body retained reserves of Rc cells. It was a form of immortality in its strangest form. Now, the focus was on finding a way to replicate this ability artificially, but for the time being, the test subject needed to be monitored and was granted a well-deserved respite. A week of experimentation had been enough, though he had demonstrated an ability bordering on the divine, Shirou was still, at his core, half-human.

From the moment he met Rize, Shirou had discovered that his body was undergoing profound and difficult-to-explain changes. At first, he experienced a sense of discomfort and rejection toward the new energy that gradually grew in intensity and power. This continued for about four years, and it seemed like this strange energy was somehow attempting to harmonize with the mana his body produced, albeit with little or no apparent progress.

However, this situation gradually changed when Shirou reached the age of ten. While immersed in his self-imposed routine of meditation and training, he experienced a severe and aggressive reaction when trying to use that strange power on his own. Due to his inexperience and lack of control, he triggered a massive overflow of energy that flooded his nervous system and aggressively infiltrated his atrophied magical circuits. The result was massive damage to his body, creating strange new branches in his anatomy due to the excessive amount of power.

Simultaneously, his body experienced a widespread collapse of the circulatory system and severe damage to multiple organs and systems. The resulting pain was indescribable, surpassing any threshold Shirou had known before. Despite his willpower, he eventually lost consciousness, unable to overcome the agony.

What Shirou didn't know at that moment was that this episode had been the final trigger for the changes that had been occurring in his body over the past four years to complete. These changes transformed his body in unimaginable ways, surprising even himself and anyone else who might have learned of it.

When he finally regained consciousness, more than twenty-four hours had passed, although the discomfort in his body persisted intermittently, the level of pain was no longer incapacitating. He struggled to explore his surroundings, getting to his feet with difficulty. He experienced a strong dizziness and a pounding migraine. With sheer willpower, he crawled to one of the corners of the room, where there was an old piece of furniture where they used to serve him food. The feeling of unfamiliarity with his own body was overwhelming, and a strange buzzing in his ears persisted as he attempted to ingest his meal. When he finished eating, a sharp pain suddenly surged in his lower back and spread through his bones and nerves. A cry of agony escaped his lips, and then he lost consciousness once more.

When he opened his eyes again, his surroundings had completely changed. He was no longer in the white room he knew, but in a cell, a cell that felt strangely familiar to him.

He tried to get up, but it was impossible. His limbs were trapped by heavy shackles that prevented him from moving. As he looked up, he observed his surroundings and saw people he had shared many years with, dressed in white coats, scientists and doctors preparing their tools for new operations. However, this time, they were accompanied by individuals dressed in black, unknown to him.

There were other sounds that caught his attention. Above his cell, there was a thick containment glass separating another room. Through it, he could see people dressed in elegant suits and kimonos, wearing colorful and thematic masks that concealed their faces. They seemed to be enjoying some kind of high-class event, but some of them directed their gaze towards him with a perverse and depraved interest. In their eyes, Shirou could see a manic madness and ecstasy that they didn't bother to hide, especially the younger ones and some women who delighted in watching him, releasing sinister laughter as they conversed among themselves.

From the shadows emerged an elegantly dressed man with an enigmatic presence. Addressing the audience from above, this mysterious individual began to highlight all the details about Shirou's past and what made him special. After four long years of waiting, he announced that today they would finally be able to enjoy a small but exquisite delicacy in the name of the glory and future of the Clan.

What followed was a return to the old hell that Shirou had lived through four years ago: new experiments, live organ and tissue dissections, brutal extractions, and remodeling. They administered unimaginable amounts of new experimental drugs and medications, ensuring that he never lost consciousness. All of this for the sadistic pleasure and delight of the distinguished guests who, with perverse smiles, made new suggestions to the black-clad executioners, who eagerly carried out the cruel mandates of the diners, pleasing their sadistic desires as they watched Shirou's suffering with pleasure.

Shirou's conviction and resolve were tested from the beginning. Initially, he underwent numerous routine experiments to confirm the early signs of something they had detected in him four years ago. This process was of utmost importance and had filled the high-ranking officials with expectations. The researchers and doctors, with tears in their eyes, confirmed their suspicions and exclaimed with ovations that they had found a subject who met the characteristics they had longed for.

With the confirmation of their discovery, the head physician awakened the experimental subject. While providing details about the confirmation, he spoke of a special ability that had awakened in Shirou. It was due to this ability and the pressure from ancient and powerful leaders that they decided to fulfill the wishes of certain distinguished and special guests. They believed that Shirou would more than capable of enduring it, and this would serve as undeniable proof of the capability of his ability.

Despite his doubts and lack of understanding of the situation, Shirou came to realize that he had awakened a strange regeneration ability unique among the Washuu Clan Ghouls. It was a miraculous regeneration that was believed to have been lost for millennia, since the last of its users perished.

This powerful ability was known as the "Latent Dragon's Heart," and it had been a source of pride for the ancient ancestors of the Clan. However, it was lost to history and had never manifested again. Now, fortune seemed to be smiling upon the Clan, and for the first time in history, they had reason to celebrate on a grand scale.

However, not everything was cause for happiness. Some elders from an upper room argued that it was tragic that this powerful ability had resurfaced in a hybrid rather than someone of pure blood. They considered it a pity that it had not occurred in a member of pure lineage. Despite that, they recognized that this was the creation of a new and powerful branch of the Clan, and they needed to make the most of it before the inevitable end for half-humans, who had a limited and short lifespan. For now, Shirou was an asset of utmost importance to the Washuu Clan as an experimental subject.

By all possible means, Shirou tried to maintain a stoic and undisturbed expression, demonstrating unwavering determination. Each time a new punishment or injury was ordered by the guests, his face remained expressionless, as if he were somewhere else, in a distant corner of his mind.

The guests seemed motivated by curiosity and morbidity, increasing the intensity of their sick requests in the hope of changing Shirou's expression, but their efforts only fueled the frustration and anger of the observers. However, the child resisted stoically, keeping his determination intact.

At the end of the gathering, all the observers gave up, surprised by the tenacity shown by that child. Although they had witnessed the veracity of the miraculous ability of the Washuu Clan, no matter the extent of his injuries, they would regenerate at such an extreme speed that it was doubtful if he had suffered damage in the first place.

However, in the midst of the dark room, filled with the pungent scent of iron in the air, the walls and floor were splattered with dried blood remnants, and among the tools used were pieces of still-fresh entrails. Beneath the room's only light, Shirou remained bound by heavy chains, exhausted and panting. His gaze was lost but still firm. He had succeeded in his mission: to resist for an entire long week without yielding to those demons. Finally, he closed his eyes at the very moment the lights went out.

After regaining consciousness, Shirou found himself once again in his familiar white room, lying in bed, drenched in sweat, and breathing heavily. When he attempted to sit up, a sharp pang of pain coursed through his entire body, and he felt the stiffness and coldness in every fiber of his being. He waited for a few minutes until the pain subsided enough to try to get up.

With care, he rose from the bed and made his way to the room's solitary mirror. He examined his own reflection closely, running his hands slowly and gently over his arms and legs.

His conclusion was that there were no apparent abnormalities. He had a body typical of his age, with developing muscles and healthy, unblemished skin. Nonetheless, his fingers trembled for a moment as he explored his body. Visions of his torturous past continued to haunt him, and the pain persisted in his skin. Closing his eyes for a moment, he relived the scenes in which his skin had been torn, his muscles shredded, and his organs mercilessly torn out. The feeling of unreality blended with reality, and he could easily imagine where his once-healthy arms had been; now, only exposed nerve and muscle tissue remained.

It was as if he had awakened from a nightmare and was face to face with the cruel reality. Although there was no visible trace of the horrors he had been subjected to, the pain remained real and unrelenting.

While clenching his fists tightly, he experienced an internal conflict. His negative emotions clashed with his ideals, but he decided not to allow his reflections to plunge him into despair. He didn't know how long he had been out of it, but if his suspicions were correct, Rize would have been alone for a long time, and that was something he couldn't allow.

Over the past four years, he had started living a life that, though brief, hadn't been lived mechanically as in his early years in this second chance at life. Despite the hypocrisy surrounding his existence, he had remained steadfast in his resolution to be an ally of justice, no matter the difficulties he faced.

Sometimes, he dreamed of his past battle against Archer. Although he still remembered the wounds and emotions of that confrontation, he also remembered Saber's sheath, which had saved his life countless times. It was a constant reminder of his relationship with one of his beloved ones, Saber, who had protected and encouraged him in his dream. There was also Rin, who had instructed and cared for him over time, even in the final moments. Despite the distance and time, remembering them once again filled his heart with warmth and relief.

However, at that moment, Rize's life and the lives of all the children in the Sunny Garden facility were his main motivation. The suffering of those innocents compelled him to stand up and make a decision; he would be responsible for saving them all.

Because Shirou had promised Rize, and he would fulfill that promise.

See you, my Friends, KaleidoMirror bids farewell.