《I do not own TYPE-MOON or any other related franchise in this work of fiction. The story and OC characters are the only works I own.》
An Era of Honor.
"Ah~. So troublesome.." He sighed as he felt like the wind blowing across his face.
He looked at himself and sighed.
A boy around twelve year with the youth still vibrant. He had ivory white hair like feathers of a dove, the baby fat was prominent, fair white skin. He was tall for his age, but nevertheless a pint sized kid. However, the most attention drawing thing would be his eyes.
They were striking gold, a faint luminescence over them gave a ethereal charm. It wasn't the enchanting look but the the striking feeling that didn't belong to a simple ten year old boy who would have the innocence of youth.
It was far-off and stare that held of a man who faced horrors that world not knew.
Maturity in them, was far too much to belong to a child.
But most people don't perceive it easily. What they could only understand was only the high maturity the boy displayed.
This was Shirou Emiya, or his newly elected name for 'this life', Avlon...Now by gods was that strange.
The boy was laying over the rolling hills content over chewing a strip of wheat field's dry grass blade. Watching the clouds drift aimlessly in the blue sky.
It was scene of carefree youth at it's peak, unaware of all the troubles of life.
—Only if things were simple as that.
Had he lost his memories of 'past life', he would've had this 'innocence of youth'. Now that's gone he had understood things wouldn't be all too simple...
Shirou had understood that he had somehow "reborn" from the 'death' granted by a chance of fortune or perhaps by some mysterious force.
Whether it be evil or good he does not know, or even why he had even gained a second fortuity.
Shirou can admit that his life was not so long that he had already learned of what the life can offer, but the Grail War which had been the most head turning point of life bad taught him many lessons.
When he drove himself through the mud of evil, he had passed through the viscous and vengeful aspect of humanity. Completely, his own understanding was something more of in disorder however, he was something that didn't reject the mud.
The moment he had sank into the depth of the humanity's evil he understood several principles and truths of 'world' as in an extent.
In kindness there's evil.
In evil there's kindness.
The Mud was evil.
It was the evil that showed the despair and grotesque aspects of humanity. It was evil. It was born of human. Humans rejected the mud because of it's very essence was evil, the All World's Evil.
—Yet he didn't reject the evil.
No he won't, because that is to reject humanity itself.
Because the greatest evil was born of human. The reason for the rejection of humans were their own hypocritical evil coming to face them.
The reason Gilgamesh was able to survive the evil was because he was Gilgamesh.
Gilgamesh, he was the King of Heroes, the Wedge of Heaven born to The Summerian Great King Lugalbanda and the Summerian Goddess Ninsun.
A divine King, a demigod of 2/3 divine and human, he is the King that neither is human or god. Becoming something else that he regarded himself as King. He is something that stands against gods for humanity yet stands before humanity.
A contradictory existence that can't be harmed by human evil. It wasn't a surprise that he didn't fall into the madness like Saber.
—That is also the reason for the fact he was able to survive the evil of human.
Shirou had always known that he was a distorted existence. An existence that deemed itself as 'human' yet at the end, he knew he wasn't at the same time he is.
From the evil of fire born from the 4th Grail War, he was baptized by the hell and blessed by paradise.
Fire had burned him into a empty shell, a blank paper.
Avalon that saved his life filled him off essence. The origin he lost when his "core" burned away was moulded into something new by the miracle of utopia.
Sword—
He had been blessed with the affinity of sword.
Avalon had engineered him to bit the 'sword' fit for the Sheath. Because that was first blueprint Avalon could first come up with.
Not surprising, somehow.
Nevertheless. Avalon had saved him at the same time turned him into something else.
He was born human, yet his nature was twisted by the hell and heaven. It wasn't surprising that he developed a natural Reality Marble.
Such was the existence known as Shirou Emiya, a distorted fool whose perception was somewhat much akin to Gilgamesh.
Of course the King would probably reap his head if he said something like that.
As he said, Shirou had accepted the evil and understood that the nature of human evil was simply born of human themselves figuratively and literally.
That is where the existence of the scapegoat comes, Angra Mainyu.
"The one and only, god of evil, the motherfucker of all motherfuckers !."
—Ah, another source of his growing headaches. Namely, Angra—
"—fucking Mainyu!."
From the ground next to him, a ichor black mud seeped out from his flickering shadow. The blob of mud that condensed into small doll sized toy that strangely resembled him in a twisted sort of way as it gave a peace sign.
It was kinda cute.
—Shirou stomped it with glowing fist.
"Motherfucker!. That hurts,!?"
"Mhnm." Shirou hummed as he tried to hit again. Maybe he could try to hit somewhere that really hurts rather than just stomping the mud.
The mud oozed back to his shadow.
Coward. Shirou thought depressingly as his stress relief ran away cowardly.
"—I prefer the terming "strategical retreat".
Avenger pointed out.
"Sure it is." Shirou said nochantly.
Angra Mainyu, the Avenger-Class Servant summoned by the Einzberns during Third Grail War.
Known to be Zoroastrian Evil God who is the All World's Evil. A Divine Spirit of the highest magnitude
—Atleast that's what they thought. The things had gone far too off.
Swimming admist the pool of evil and later my mind and soul renewed by the rebirth, Shirou now understand his truth
Originally believed to be the Persian god of darkness himself, in reality, he was no more than an ordinary villager.
A human that was freed from the confines of Order by having his name expelled from the Avesta,The Universal Revelation of Inscribed Creation. One day, he was randomly chosen as the "source of all evil in the world" by his village and was tortured and sacrificed in the ensuing rituals.
The villagers, who were suffering from various disasters, eventually came to need a scapegoat for blaming their troubles onto. This scapegoat would be designated to be a demon and be chosen to be the reason for all the calamities afflicting the village. Simultaneously, he would be chosen to be the source of all the world's evil and by his existence, the villagers would have to be good by nature.
So they continuously tortured him until he went insane.
They captured him, beat him, carved every word that cursed mankind onto his body, forced every sin imaginable upon him, took out bits and pieces of him slowly, defiled his mind with absolute evil, and held him responsible for all of it in the world. They would not allow him to die until he succumbed to old age.
He had a curse put on him as a result, one made of the great evil that he was to represent.
He was shocked at first at the senselessness of it at all.
Eventually he started wondering who it was he should hate.
However, Avenger himself only felt anger and hatred towards the world and the people that mercilessly executed him. His forced sacrifice eased the confused minds of his people, which despite being unintentional, qualified him to become a Heroic Spirit.
He only despised mankind of his own accord during the first few years, but after that, the hate became a natural function for him rather than an emotion; hate was the state he was always in, so it was only natural for him to continue hating everything without any other reason. By that time, he forgave and tolerated humanity for whatever sins they may cause while hating them.
The world is worth hating. The imbalances were evened out by his hatred, so the people could be absolved of all guilt and live freely. But that kind of"forgiveness"is also the same type that validates any good or evil that humans may perform.
Yet as the time passed by and he saw many rises and fall of generations, he realized that while he still hated humans for what they did, he still loved the world. Of course, the people that put him up there, his family, his loved ones, the people he hated, died long before he did.
The village changed over the generations, expanding, declining; people reviled him, people feared him, people scorned him, and yet they revered him as the sign of their salvation. But he could do nothing but hate, since that was the only thing he could communicate to the world. In the end, he accepted his role for humanity, even if it meant to be the blame for their wrongdoings.
As he watched the world for millennia, his name, his body, and his soul eroded away, leaving only his raw emotion of hatred behind. This hatred still remains watching the human world and will do so until its very end.
A helpless sacrifice—an ordinary person without any special talent—that transformed into exactly what they wanted, that was determined to be and came to represent All the World's Evil. And thus, hated by everyone and losing his self, a hero was born.
That was what he was, a hero born from hatred, Avenger.
"Oh, please no need for such praises bud!, I will die blushing." Avenger drawled.
"Please do." Shirou replied kindly. The sun was rising. He noted that it was about time to go back to Sauvage town.
With a sigh, Shirou got up begrudgingly. The sight of flowing river and the rolling green grass seems to inviting for him to leave.
Shirou picked up the sword stabbed on the ground, a light sheen over it's blade's silvery metal. It wasn't that bad, but somewhat looked like an ordinary blade with belonged to a squire.
Not that he needed one mind, you.
"An walking breathing armoury needs a low quality sword which even a fruit knife can beat to protect himself. I am seeing a lot of humour, add this one to the list too."
Avenger guffawed with a chuckle.
"Shush you." Shirou smiled. Ah, speaking with the All-World's Evil is a bit relaxing.
—Suddenly, Shirou paused as he stopped walking midway.
Was he getting this off in the head that he was feeling good talking with the literal devil.
"First of all that was fucking rude you asshole. You go on and badmouthing your perfectly sane and educated therapist who brings back his crazy patient to sanity. Secondly, no I ain't the devil."
"Don't speak so loudly infront of others you idiot."
"What worried that others might mistake you for having multi personality disorder ?."
"No, people don't even know what that means. They would probably mistake evil possession."
"Hah!, uneducated swines."
"Now look who's badmouthing ?."
"No one asked you."
"Oh, Good Morning Avlon!." A burly elderly man holding a large barrel yelled cheerfully.
"Oh, Avlon!. Good Morning !." A middle aged woman greeted him with a smile, holding a pot filled with water.
"Good Morning Big Brother, Avlon!." The child who held a small pot herself called out with a cheerful grin.
"Oh~, Avlon, Good Morning!." A young woman tittered to him.
"Good Morning, lad!." A young man, a knight, gave him a mock salute as he swept past him.
These were the responses Shirou received on his qay through the Sauvage Town.
The respect and adoration from the people still made him blink in sheer awe.
However, it still made Shirou scratch his head at how most people react when he helps.
Shirou who would help person in whatever regards may it be the smallest matter of repair or even household chores to the healing and medical help could make people rever him as a lord to even fall in love. Though, perhaps they might've as well be exaggerated it was somewhat fitting.
Each of these instances had always made him aware that he isn't in 'his time' anymore.
Human principles of this age is simply different. This was the age where Knights and the honor and value of valor and integrity still clung to the hearts of people. This was the era which could be called Age of Knights.
The knights who could not rest until their debts of kindness have been paid in due, the woman who had adored him of simple act of consideration. Children who wished for valour and fame as him.
Infact, a few knights had even wanted to serve under him for the simple reason of 'saving their life', when all he did was just treat their wounds.
It took Shirou mighty effort that what he did was a simple act of help which hoped for no reward and to reward him.
It was scary how each things could appear to be giving him more and favours that any nobles would choke in envy.
There was a thing about about people in this age and Shirou's own.
To be frank, now that he saw it, he kinda understood what Gilgamesh meant.
Where in the modern times even when people help others out of pure kindness and heartfelt desire, people either take advantage or even just pass-it off as a normal thing.
Humanity truly has deteriorated.
Shirou quickly erased such thoughts. Avenger had been corrupting him too much, didn't he ?.
'Feh, you're too fucked up in the head like the King. Only thing I can do is probably enhance your humane attributes. Besides, pretty sure none of those fuckers who tried to make me 'Proto-Dubious-Consent- Jesus' showed this 'mah honour' when they pushed 6 billion curses down my ass.' Avenger brooded with a casual mood.
'They were off in the head.' Shirou replied.
'So they aren't ?.' Avenger doubted.
'I don't know.' Shirou answered swiftly.
'Smart answer, partner.' Avenger nodded. Atleast he didn't start bitching about how good people could be.
'Human nature made you Avenger, I'm not gonna argue with you, here.' Shirou acknowledged that humans contain both evil and good. You can't comprehend one's nature simply due to their selves. A human always has both good and evil in their essences. It produces balance.
Shirou was no more delusional or stupid. He will acknowledge evil at the same time good. If people contain evil there would be good. Besides, talking in a sense neither was something that in truth were even a aspect to begin with. They too had born of human conception.
"Well, well, if it isn't 'Sir Avlon' ?. Amassing people's hearts like the heartless flirt you are." Just as he reached the Manor before him, an annoying voice caught his attention.
"Kay...Please stop annoying Avlon." A pleasant and beautiful voice too turned his head.
Shirou turned his head as he stopped just a few metres away from the Manor. And just as him, was a pair of people next to him.
A young man and a kid around his age and brown horse, the man was holding the horse by the reigns as he walked next to the kid.
The man had soft brown hair and mirthful hazel brown eyes he looked around his late teens, a fair complexion, with an easy going smile over his lips he seemed like a person that liked to enjoy life to the fullest. He wore a light silver armor. This was Kay, the son of Sir Ector.
Next to the man was a 'boy' that wasn't a 'boy'. With slender physique, soft and fair skin, and green eyes, 'he' has "finely textured" blonde hair that seems "as if sprinkled with gold dust." 'His' face shows some signs of naivety and displays elegance. A petite and short child. 'He' wore a white and black clothes that seems to be a standard squire attire.
The 'boy' at first looked a bit feminine, however, that could be passed off as being "too pretty"
However, hell would freeze over if he couldn't recognize his Saber—no Arturia.
Shirou's eyes softened. Kay scoffed. Shirou glared at him.
Arturia tilted her head in confusion.
"We know who is the flirty one, Kay. And thank you, Artiris." Shirou said politely.
"It's Artorius, Avlon." Arturia said with a strained smile. Kay cackled. Shirou hid a smile.
"Still can't get a name right, Avlon!." Kay was vicious at his mocking, but they knew he was like that. And to tell the truth being with him for years helped them understand when he really means to be venomous or when he is just being Kay.
However, between them it's been a running gag for Shirou to mess up Arturia's name. To the point, nearly all of them, even the gullible Arturia to think that Shirou was just teasing her.
" Like you still can't get a girl, Kay." Shirou asked 'innocently'. Kay bristled.
"Why you little tur!—"
"Kay!." A rumbling gruff voice echoed from behind. Kay gulped, before glaring at Shirou for the blatant betrayal.
'Traitor!.'
Shirou whistled innocently turning a bit away.
"How many times do I have to tell you Kay for holding your tongue." The gruff voice behind Kay spoked as they turned to face the owner of the rough voice.
The man had an appearance of an aged fella who had long past his prime, while particular short about as tall as Kay, yet he stood firmer and stronger than Kay. A large frame clad in an rough grey knightly armour. He had midnight black hair with a particularly large number of grey strands among them showing his withering age. In his hand were Arturia's wooden sword which Shirou fixed. His posture however still sents a wave of danger to Shirou.
This was Sir Ector, father to Kay and 'Artorius' also the foster father of Arturia and a somewhat father figure to 'Avlon' or Shirou.
However, he had refused to acknowledge Ector as his father, whether it be foster or not, in his mind a weak figure who smiled at the moon nostalgically would forever be the only father he would have.
Nevertheless, the respect to this man who raised him was no smaller either.
"I swear, your sharp tongue is something that I wish you didn't take from your mother.." Ector grumbled. Kay grinned and Arturia smiled faintly. Shirou watched with a smile.
"Whatever. Kay, did you get the scrolls from Sir Einards." Ector asked almost quietly, his aged but sharp eyes darted for curious ears. Shirou's face didn't change but his mind was already working at pace of miles.
To have this proud man be so secretive, isn't it quite interesting.
However, Shirou refrained from being too meddlesome. He has his own secrets and this man hadn't pried into them and if it is something to be known to him, Sir Ector would say it to his face.
He won't be barging into personal affairs.
"I think we should go in, the weather is getting pretty cold..I better go make you something to eat, aren't you feeling hungry Arotis.." Shirou said nochantly going inside the manor.
"It's Artur—I mean Artorius, Avlon!." Arturia followed with a weak yell. The small strand on her head swaying happily at the mention of food, especially prepared by Shirou.
Ector watched as Kay quickly pushed the scrolls to him before quietly joining with Arturia. Ector sighed, not that he could blame them.
However, his attention remained fixed on Shirou who went inside the manor.
It was almost scary how the boy could be giving him certain sense of familiarity, whether it be concisiously or not.
The boy was very strange, he seem to have his father's maturity and his mother's quirks, but the boy seems to have a tranquil calmness and wisdom that surpassed his age. A kindness that was unparalleled.
He was calm as a sea before storm, with a distinctive playful and teasing attitude that comes up sometimes, and had a wise demeanour with a polite yet imposing presence. It was hard to take him as an simple kid.
And the boy's eyes they really were different. It feel aged and tempered.
With such a posture that demands attentions, especially the swift yet calm stature yet regal and deadly underneath was like lion or a wolf.
The boy seemed to gather attention and respect easily like moth to flame. Nearly the entirety of the town has already aquantied with the kind and wise child.
Ector sighed once more as he tried to nurse upcoming headache. Of course it wasn't directly because of the boy, the boy was anything but a headache in truth he was much better than Kay or 'Arthur' who brought trouble with their wild and untamed demeanour, it was just the fact seeing the boy feels like seeing an upcoming young Merlin.
An unparalleled wisdom coupled with those eyes that seemed to see beyond simple comprehension.
Thankfully, he was not as mischievous or flirtatious as Merlin had been. But unmistakably, he definitely had the charm. If how those wives and young ladies seems to preen in his presence.
God be grateful the boy had been so clueless to the attraction of feminine kind.
However, it was obvious that anyone that met him would instantly turn away from any association with Merlin with the maturity the kid displayed. Only thing they would think would be the wisdom other than that nothing else.
'And his special tricks.' Ector noted with narrowed eyes, staring at the wooden sword, rubbing his hand over it.
Perhaps, Kay or even Arturia hasn't noticed but he certainly had. He had seen the arcane dwellers, including Merlin. He won't mistake it. It was undoubtedly, Magecraft.
For him to develop those things...
Despite the fact how suspicious it seemed, of the means Ector knew that boy was not inherently evil nor was he bad.
Despite his somewhat apathetic behaviour, Ector knew when to believe his gut feeling.
Nevertheless, his lineage still made him feel a sense of trepidation for the boy. Somehow it made him feel his honour was tainted if he had ever though of his friend as such.
However, by all means he wished the boy won't become like his father. He wished from his bottom of the heart that he would be just like his mother.
Ector went a great way to teach the boy of the honors and creed of a knight and the value of morals.
Ector was old and withered. Yet wise and knowledgeable. With age he understood, the old cannot carve a smooth path to the young, young will have to carve the path for themselves and walk the path themselves. But they could definitely give the direction.
And he hoped the boy would take a path he won't regret.
Note:
Okay, I think I got flamed enough but frankly, I can't understand your logic about an eastern name like "Emiya Shirou" in fuckin' British Isles. Other than suspicion and pronunciation mistakes, you can't expect that most people would treat him like a British of all things and the even more of the fact that anyone in the European nation would come up with a fuckin' Japanese name when they don't even know about, Japan!
Besides, the name is for a cover. Shirou's Shirou. But others address him as that. It's like calling EMIYA as Archer. Don't take that too seriously.
Shirou's all about characteristics and his own sense of 'definition of self'. Let's just say that is going to be a big plot device. Ranging from Rhongomnyiad to Age of God's demise...I'm not saying anything more.
And Yes, Dimensiondor go ahead, I give you my full support. Just PM' me for it.