AN: Not gonna lie, I'm glad to finally be done with this chapter, but kinda regret I did it at all. It's kinda boring and wouldn't blame you if you skipped it.

Also, if you see a problem with my story feel free to voice those complaints. I'm always looking to improve my writing in any way possible.


Chapter 6: Another Family Member

Parents...I swear they're the most ulcer inducing thing I've ever had to deal with. One was awful to me. Another was never able to be a part of my life. The Necromancer and Ned Dioland were probably the closest I had to functional paternal figures in my lifeand one of them was a mercenary magi hitman. And the closet I had to a maternal figure held me in contempt from the moment I was born.

Honestly, I'm surprised I didn't end up like a sociopath.

Can't decide who had it worse, me or Mordred.

That aside, What a day. Had to fight my brother, again. Sparred with a guy I thought I could get along with only to learn a woman I've liked since I was a kid has a thing for him, so now I can't stand the sight of him. Had to fight a Berserker. Oh, and I'm stuck in Britain for a while.

I'd ask how things could get worsebut knowing my luck I'd probably get jinxed.

March 26

Elric was walking with Mordred back to the hotel after their meal. Looking exhausted and almost slightly battered from the log day he had endured. Hoping once they were back he could finally relax from the day's ordeal.

Even when they were eating, he could feel someone's eyes on him.

Mordred watched from behind as he walked. His forlorn gait looked more depressing that usual. Like an abandoned child.

They still had a long way to walk, so Mordred thought another conversation was in order. She spoke up to ask "Master?"

There was something she had been meaning to ask since they arrived in Clock Tower yesterday.

Elric looked back over his shoulder as they continued to traverse, grunting "Hm?"

"I've been meaning to ask: what's the deal with your brother? He's a real prick."

"Lady Rheon conditioned him to despise me from an early age."

"Lady Rheon? Why would your mother-"

"She's not my mother." Elric corrected her. Sounding a little annoyed by the idea of the demon called Lisa Rheon being thought of as his mother. "Lisa Rheon is my step-mother. Mom died when I was a couple of months old."

"Oh." Mordred looked down at the ground with a forlorn expression.

"Yeah, I'd probably have to shoot myself if that woman was my mother."

"Why?"

"You really wanna know?"

Mordred nodded her head. Confidently. Without a trace of doubt.

"Your brain cells to lose, I guess." Elric joked in a sigh. "She hated my mother, from the moment they met. She used to be my old man's childhood sweetheart, then one day their parents separated them. Years later the Rheon and Belmont families arranged a marriage between Edward and my mother Joan. Neither was that thrilled by the prospect but tried to make it work—for a while—then around the time mom got pregnant with me Lisa came back to Clock Tower and back into Edward's life. Everyday afterwards she had it in for my mother. Did everything she could to destroy whatever stability that existed in their relationship."

"And your father?"

"Bought it all hook, line, and sinker. Without a second thought. Made the final year of mom's life miserable."

Yesh."

"Yeah you're telling me." Elric said in solidarity with Mordred. "He always did have trust issues."

"Guess the apple didn't fall far from the tree."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. I have justifiable trust issues. Pretty reasonable when your dad and brother attempt to to murder you after….after….well that part's not important."

"Back up. He tried to kill you?"

"Yeah. I got lucky, though."

"You're awfully casual about it."

Elric stopped in his tracks. He thought about it—the despair, the anguish, the hatred he felt back then. The emotions felt like distant memories, except for the hatred which had just been channelled in new directions over the years. It disturbed the gunslinger to think such grudges could be overcome so easily. Then the memories of what the Rheons did to him came flooding back—with the anger and hatred boiling over in his mind once more; and the more he thought about it, the more the magician realized how stupid he was to come back in the first place.

What was wrong with me?

Clenching his fist, Elric concluded and told Mordred "I've had six years to let it mellow out." then followed up with "But I wouldn't say I'm completely over it. I just have new reasons to resent Rheon and Somnus."

Elric then resumed walking.

Mordred fell silent for a moment as she watched. A little surprised by the revelation.

"Some shit happened and I got away. Haven't been back here since that...until yesterday." Elric continued. "It's why I was so reluctant to come back."

Mordred continued to look with a bewildered expression.

His father tried to kill him, too. And he asked me for advice.

Mordred began to gather more to the extent to which her Master placed trust in her. It felt weird—the Knight of Treachery being entrusted, again.

It was getting dark as they approached the hotel. The sun was almost completely gone.

Once inside, Elric did not hesitate to jump on to his bed. It had been more than 24 hours since he last slept, so he was ready to pass out. To enter the domain of morpheus and call it a day. Mordred didn't even try to stop him.

It would not be long, but it felt like bliss in the empty darkness. Elric did not dream often, especially when not having his mind invaded by Mordred's memories. This time, however, was different. He saw fleeting images of his brother Emil—looking at him with a warm smile—saying those final words: "Don't waste them, Brother."

The dream was vague once his brother vanished back into the darkness. Hard for him to follow everything as it transpired before his closed eyes. Next he saw a man sitting upon the Throne of Corruption holding a blade similar to Bleidd. Elric called out to the stranger but his words were ignored. He then looked past the throne and saw something more alarming: a giant blue light calling out to him.

It called him to a purpose—to a calling he had yet to heed. It felt warm and righteous. Elric did not like it. The Blue Light felt like something he had not right to be near.

"I don't understand." Elric told it.

The calling only grew more intense. And louder.

"Volumes!" Elric complained, shielding his ears from the noise.

Then finally the man upon the Throne of Corruption spoke "You have an obligation!"

"No thanks." Elric countered. "I already have enough obligations, thank you very much."

The two voices of the Blue Light and Throne of Corruption grew louder and louder. Elric pleaded for them to cease—to spare his poor eardrums from damage. But they just persisted without signs of reprieve.

Suddenly heard a knock and the voices finally ceased their barrage. Elric awoke back in his hotel room to hear a knock at his door. Mordred nowhere to be found in sight. If she wasn't such a capable fighter he would have almost been worried.

He grabbed Knall and approached the door then peered through the peephole. On the other side he saw a familiar, dark haired young woman waiting. Elric sighed bitterly as he realized who it was continually knocking at his door.

"Go away!" Elric said. Not in the mood for the visitor.

"Well that's a fine way to greet a visitor." the woman complained. "Especially to your own sister."

"Not taking visitors right now." Elric responded. "Try again in the morning."

"Very well." The woman claiming to be his sister said, almost causing some relief in Elric until she said "Lancer. Prepare to slice the door."

There was a confirming grunt from a second voice.

"Wait! Wait!" Elric sighed again, putting Knall away. "I'll open the damn door."

Unlocking the door, he greeted his sister—Euros Rheon—with an apathetic "Welcome."

Standing beside her was a girl in a black hood holding a scythe. Elric looked at her and was instantly regretting that he put Knall away. Confused why the one his sister called Lancer was holding a scythe.

Oh, the hell. What the hell?

"I'm assuming female Grim here is your Servant."

"Yes."

Elric frustratingly gestures her to walk inside. "Well, get in here before someone sees you."

Euros walked in, sarcastically saying "A pleasure to see you again as well, brother." with her scythe carrying Lancer not far behind her before the door was slammed shut.

Fuck. I just want to rest. Is that too much to ask?

"What do you want, Euros?"

"Perhaps I merely wanted to visit you. It has been six years since we last spoke."

"You could have done that in the morning."

"I have classes in the morning."

"You're gonna argue about this regardless of what I say, aren't you?"

"You should know better by now, brother."

Elric sighed. I wanna kill her. Feeling like he would go insane if he didn't get more sleep.

"So what do you want, for real?"

"I heard from Father you were back in town so I thought I might pay a visit, perhaps see this Saber of your's. And maybe deliver a message."

"Message?"

"Lord Melloi wishes to speak with you tomorrow. Something about a misplaced catalyst."

"Okay, well, since Saber isn't here right now, I guess you have no further reason to stay here tonight." Elric tried to guide her back towards the door. But Euros was far from finished with her visit that night.

"Not so fast. I also wanted to talk about this business with Luvia."

"Should have known." Elric groaned. "Alright, let it out. Get it over with."

"I just find it a tad funny how you actually came back to England. On the positive side, I finally have an older sister now."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. No you don't. I'm not married yet."

"Don't tell me you actually plan on slithering your way out of this." Euros raised a brow. Curious to hear the reason why. "You've been fond of her since you were children, why would you want to find a way out of this?"

"Because…" Elric nearly let it slip. "Because I feel like it." He wanted to say why, it was a valid reason to go against the arrangement, but he suspected that if he talked...if he talked it meant Lord Rheon would find out and there was a chance Shirou would turn up floating in the water under London Bridge. And if his suspicions were right about Emiya, all he'd succeed in is upsetting Luvia. "That and I just want to go back home."

"You could always visit Arizona after the wedding."

"You're not helping."

"What gave you the impression I was attempting to? This situation is far too amusing for me to let it pass by."

In the midst of the conversation, the door to the room abruptly.

Mordred entered, mouth and hands filled with snacks.

Seeing the food, Elric asks "Again? You're still stuffing your face?"

Swallowing her food, Mordred responded "It's really good."

Elric and Mordred began to talk, and a wicked smile that could rival Stella's washed over Euros' lips and she looked at her Lancer mischievously with a I have new toy expression on her face, then glanced back towards Elric and Mordred.

"Oh-ho. Who's this, dear Brother?"

Elric glanced over his shoulder with a trepidcious look, recognizing the tone of his sister all too well—as Stella usually used with him back in Arizona—as he faced his sister.

"Another one of your companions?" Euros put on a facetious disapproving front. "Oh, poor Luvia. You are not even married yet and already you go behind her back with other-"

"It's not like that." Elric stopped her there. Then tried to introduce her "This is my Partner E-" but Mordred stopped him, knowing he was going for the same alias he gave her back in Tucson, and the Rebellious Knight would not tolerate it a second time.

"It's Mordred."

"Oh." Euros said surprised. "So you are my brother's Saber. How amusing, I imagined you would look a tad more sinister." Not even attempting to conceal her own disappointment with Mordred. When she attempted to bring up the subject of gender, Elric stopped her right there with a "Shh" expression. Giving enough of a hint for Euros to drop the subject entirely.

"Well, allow me to introduce myself. As you may have supposed, I am "Elric," here's sister. Euros Rheon." Euros told Mordred as gracefully as she could. Surprising the Knight of Treachery, to a degree—as she had expected the other members of the Rheon family to be as unpleasant as Edward and Somnus were; especially if they were one of Lisa Rheon's children (based on all that Elric had told her before on the walk from Clock Tower).

Elric added "Unfortunately."

"You'll have to excuse my brother, Mordred, he did not much in the way of role models to teach him manners."

"I have manners. You people just don't recognize them, and prefer to ignore that they exist."

"Manners to be expected from a mercenary and bounty hunter."

"Freelancer, jackass. If you're gonna be that way at least have the decency to get the classification and category right."

"See what I mean? No class."

With an abrupt and frustrated tone, Elric pointed to the door and said "Get out. It's midnight, I've barely had any sleep, and I don't have the energy to deal with you."

"No need to become so agitated." Euros assured him. "I just wanted to see you were getting along well. Afterall, I know how Somnus loves to push things with you."

"Yeah, I'm fine. Aside from a few words and a dislocated shoulder."

Euros looked at her brother's shoulder. "Seems fine to me."

"I put it back into place."

"Ah. Well I was also curious to meet this Saber of yours. Since I've done that, I'll be on my way." She stepped towards them. "I'll need to resume this conversation later."

Finally.

"After I have talked with some class mates."

Shit, she's gonna start something.

"Wait a-"

Euros then looked to Mordred.

"Good day, Sir Mordred." Euros said as she walked to the door. "Hopefully my brother does not drag you into too much trouble."

Elric's eyes twitched in an aggravated manner as he watched his sister and her Lancer leave. Seeing her proclivity for annoyingly playing with him had not waned like the gunslinger had hoped.

She said her goodbyes to Elric and departed. Elric closed the door, grateful she was just gone, finally, and looked back to Mordred. His partner, once again, had more questions for him. Much to Elric's chagrin. Realizing his night would be even longer.

"You have a sister and a brother?" was the first of her questions.

Seeing no other recourse, Elric responded "I have three siblings. Only two of them are still breathing, unfortunately." and the long conversation began from there.