Circuit of Clay

Chapter I

The first rays of the dawn began to cast their gentle glow as he emerged into the room, his movements fluid and poised — each step a measured cadence that seemed to echo the tranquility of the approaching morning; a soft, iridescent light played upon his shimmering hair while the floor creaked beneath his feet, the locks catching the faint hues of the early sun like the finest strands of green. An array of vibrant flowers and lush vegetation adorned the corner, a verdant touch that carried with it a lingering scent of fresh blooms and earthy fragrances.

His slender fingers glided over the wooden surface of a nearby table, their sensitive tips finding purchase upon a simple band of rubber — the texture smooth against his damp skin as he retrieved the item with an almost ethereal grace. He drew the object around his tresses, the elastic material yielding to his touch the moment it came into contact with his verdant locks. Each twist and turn revealed his seamless mastery over the act, his mane falling in cascading waves before he gathered them up into a neat, high ponytail; a few strands, reminiscent of rampant vines, framed the right side of his visage, adding an air of untamed beauty to his otherwise serene countenance.

'... how peaceful.'

The rustling of the leaves provided for a soothing backdrop as he began to make his way across the room — gaze drawn to the magazine placed on top of the nightstand — the publication lifting itself into the air with but a single gesture of his hand. His knuckle brushed over the ornate bindings of various manuscripts before he proceeded to settle onto the edge of the bed, his lithe frame sinking into the mattress, legs crossed beneath the flowing fabric of his robes; orbs of emerald, deep pools of contemplation, perused the articles and images that depicted a world of innovation and progress — a world that is vastly different yet remained tethered to the whispers of nature's legacy.

'Possible dispute between USNA and Indo-Persian Federation, Japan's escalating tension with Great Asian Union, another product from the FLT, military use of hard-light technology, the possible application of- oh?' His gaze danced across the words printed on the page, his mind absorbing the diverse array of information detailing the latest potential breakthroughs in the direct utilization of the so-called 'convergence magic' techniques. 'Hmm... the Saegusa and the... Itsuwa, was it? Looks like their project is going to end up in failure once more. A bit unfortunate, though the idea behind their concept appeared to be promising at the first glance; admirable, but foolish in its execution.'

Of course, it was more of a guess rather than an absolute certainty, considering their track records and all that. It's not like he was an expert on matters related to that particular field or anything. Still... he couldn't help but to find the entire situation... ironic, for the lack of a better word.

In the end, for all their attempts, they — and by extension, the rest of these 'magic technicians' — have yet to take even the first step in understanding the essence of what they are truly trying to achieve. Although, if he was not mistaken, a paltry few did manage to come close to performing an actual magecraft... or at least, the magecraft as he knew it.

'And then, there's that Maheśvara,' he mused, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. 'It is a good thing that he has yet to become a threat... but when, or if he finally did...' A sense of anticipation flickered in his mind, the thoughts fluttering like a passing breeze before his eyes began to glide over the remaining text. 'Well, it's not like I hate the notion of fighting...'

While he was not about to initiate any unnecessary conflicts, he couldn't deny the fleeting excitement that brewed within... a subtle exhilaration that came whenever the prospect of battle loomed on the distant horizon. It was a small thing... one that is imperceptible yet remained noticeable all the same.

After all, for all their faults, the Child of Clay was — at the core — nothing more than a weapon made by the Gods, an instrument of the Divines... one that spoke of precision and of lethality. And being modeled after that very same existence — an existence that was not his own, but one he found himself inexplicably tied to — had granted him a peculiar fascination with the dance of combat, a fascination that transcended the mere pleasure or the thrill derived from such a struggle... among other things.

Was it a boon or was it a curse? He honestly didn't know the answer to that question...

Still, to think that She would be able to broker a deal with the world itself... even he was surprised by the idea when she had first come to him. Then again, considering her identity, perhaps such an outcome was to be expected.

'Now... to see if all those efforts paid off.'

His eyes shifted towards the window, to the flourishing foliage and the colorful blooms that adorned the small garden below — emerald meeting gold as his gaze locked with a beast coated in white; he allowed the magazine to drop, setting it back onto the nightstand with the same grace he had displayed throughout his every action. A smile tugged at the corner of his lips, an unspoken conversation that went between animal and man before he rose from his bed, the fabric of his robes flowing as if responding to an unseen breeze.

'Mmm... two hours left before she arrived,' his feet traced a path through the floorboards while the wind whispered through the leaves, their song a tranquil serenade that harmonized with his thoughts — the voice that came out from his mouth akin to a gentle stream. "Well, I suppose it would be best if I begin preparation; she's not one to appreciate a delay, after all."

He could feel the plush texture of the carpet beneath as he glided towards the door, his serene countenance reflecting the golden hues of the dawn filtering through the window; the light danced upon the wall, creating with it an image reminiscent of morning dew. His gaze went towards the tag hanging by the entrance — the patter of his steps echoing throughout the room. It swung gently — a pendulum of identity — its surfaces smooth against his skin as his fingers brushed against the object, a slight frown marring his otherwise perfect features; the letters, carefully crafted in elegant strokes, spelled out a name that felt foreign on his tongue.

'... it really doesn't suit me.'

He held the tag for but a few moments longer, its earthly sheen mirroring his ethereal gaze. Chains of silver curled around his wrist before he proceeded to open the door, its handle a cold contrast to the warmth of his hand.

'Still, to emulate the use of 'magic' by the way of technology,' a chuckle — soft and resonant — escaped from his lips as he stepped into the promise of a new day, his silhouette merging seamlessly with the embrace of the unfolding dawn. 'Truly... mankind never ceases to amaze.'

Bloodshot eyes peered into the terminal for what seemed to be the hundredth time, their pinkish, reddish hues reflecting the glow of the screen. Her hands glided over the keyboard, tapping out commands with a practiced precision that betrayed a certain level of exhaustion — the faint hum of the machinery providing for a constant background, the noise punctuated by the distant murmur of school staff walking through the hallway. A slight tremor ran through her digits as she made a final adjustment on the settings of her display, each button responding with a soft beep — the subtle, tingling sensation of the cold air caressing her cheek as she began to settle into the chair.

"I really don't think that this is going to work." She muttered in a voice that spoke volumes of her weariness, fingers massaging her temples in a futile attempt to alleviate the dull ache that pulsed behind her eyes.

"Mmm... well, you should go ahead and take a break, President." The scent of freshly brewed beverage wafted through the room, the distinctive fragrance followed by the clinking of a teacup being placed on her desk. "According to my calculation, approximately three hours had passed since you started working on the project."

"Thank you, Rin-chan," her hand reached for the container, the warmth of the porcelain a soothing respite against the chill that lingered on her skin. "Still, I thought integrating the multithreaded algorithms into the matrix would streamline the processes..." She could feel the steam curling around her face, its wispy veils carrying with it a mix of floral and earthy tones — a blend that distracted her from the digital complexities that she had immersed herself in. "To think that it only ended up making things all the more complicated..."

"Uh-huh," the voice of her fellow Triumvirate came from the side, a note of skepticism coloring her tone. "Are you even sure that we're allowed to be here? Not that I don't appreciate it, but I'm fairly certain that this project of yours was supposed to be kept as a secret... for a few more months, at least."

"Oh, please; none of you would tell. Besides, despite what everyone had said, I'm quite convinced that it will simply fail just like the rest. Of course, it's not like my father ever had much of a hope for the project to begin with."

"And yet, your family still decided to go along with it... why is that, I wonder?" She threw the question with an arch of her eyebrow, only to receive a pointed stare in response; the young woman proceeded to cross her arms over her chest, her movements accompanied by the almost imperceptible rustle of her clothes. "Right... politics; guess I'm lucky enough to not have to deal with those kinds of things."

"Mhmm... though it's not just about politics, I suppose." A wry smile made its way up onto her lips, the bitter taste of the tea lingering on her tongue as she took a thoughtful sip. "Then again, it's not as if I have much of a say in matters such as these. Both the Itsuwa and the military had asked us for our full cooperation, and they won't settle for anything less."

"Well, can't say I envy you..."

"I know, right~? They could've at least tried to pick a better time for this... I mean, it's so close to the beginning of a new school year~!" She complained in a mock cheerful tone, her eyes glancing towards the window — where the morning sunlight filtered through the partially drawn blinds — before her gaze fell back upon the Chief of the Public Morals Committee; the soft glow painted the room in its warm hues, casting a golden sheen upon the furniture that adorned the wide, minimalistic space. "Ah, but enough about that; are you done with your preparation?"

"I forwarded the plans to the rest of the members. Of course, we'll schedule another meeting for the day before the ceremony — to iron out the details and such — but yeah, there shouldn't be a problem on our end."

"Already? Did you handle everything, then?"

"Just a few... most of the stuff was left for Kanon to manage, especially those involving paperwork." The young woman leaned against the back of her chair, her expression betraying a hint of mischief as she maintained a nonchalant smile. "She should be well-acquainted with her role by now, and it's not like there's much to do. Besides, this would serve as a good experience for her, don't you think?"

"Ah... so it is simply because you don't want to be bothered to deal with those lousy paperwork yourself." She replied with a knowing smirk, amusement gleaming in her orbs of crimson. "Well, I suppose I did give A-chan a portion of my work, so it's not like I could complain about it."

"The power of delegation is a truly wonderful thing..."

"Oh, shush, you~" Her laugh resonated throughout the room — the sound akin to a melody of playful notes; her sight shifted to the screen that lay before her, fingers gliding over the interface. "I think I'll put a few more hours into analyzing these data streams... just to see where it leads. Anyway, should we go to Einebrise once I'm done? It's been a while since the three of us hung out together."

"It's because you're too busy with your duty in the Ten Master Clan, Mayumi," she answered with a shrug of her shoulder, a playful grin tugging at her lips. "But sure, I'm fine with anything, really; not like we have much of a choice when it comes to cafes around this area."

"... I swear, sometimes, that title is more trouble than it's worth," Mayumi pouted, eyes narrowing in a mock display of displeasure. "Still... there's really not much to go around, isn't it?" She let out a dramatic sigh, her orbs of crimson shifting to the other individual by her side. "What about you, Rin-chan?"

"Hmm?" The young woman in question — who had been content to stay quiet throughout the entire conversation — raised her head in response to the query, solemn face softening into a subtle smile. "If it was a cafe, then there's a new place I'd like to try."

"Oh? A new place?" Her brows furrowed slightly, her eyes trailing toward the device in the treasurer's hand. "Huh... I don't remember one being built recently."

"It's not exactly new, but more of a... renovated establishment, I think? A bookstore that also functions as a cafe... as well as a flower shop? Or at least, that's what it seemed... I only visited it once with my parents — a few weeks ago, when they're trying to buy some flowers. Of course, I didn't pay too much attention back then. It has a good review, though..."

"Some sort of literary lounge, then? Well, there's no harm in trying, I suppose; not to mention that it would be my first time visiting such an establishment." The tip of her finger grazed against the finely crafted cup, a brief silence following her words as her attention fell upon the documents scattered across the table. "Anyway, are you doing another research on Dahan?"

"This?" Suzune replied, expression as stoic as ever as she picked up a single piece of paper — its surfaces littered with blurry pictures of chains, several forms of bladed weapons, and what appears to be branches of humongous trees. "Not so much on Dahan as it was the circumstances regarding its downfall... specifically, the mysteries behind the '2062' incident."

Ah... the old and perplexing 'Heavenly Retribution', as some had coined it, or more widely known as just the 'twenty-sixty-two' incident — a cataclysmic event, the details of which persist in being so obscure that its mysteries remain unsolved even to this day. It chronicled the sudden collapse of a militaristic superpower under the span of less than an hour, all of it orchestrated by an unknown individual whose magic defied the conventional understanding of what was possible.

No one could quite comprehend how a single person managed to dismantle an entire state, destroying hidden laboratories, naval bases, and military-grade equipment with an efficiency that bordered on the supernatural; experts from various fields, both magical and technological, have grappled with the secrets behind the incident, yet in the end, the identity of the figure and the nature of their formidable magic remained... elusive, at the best of times. It certainly doesn't help that all records, footage, and copies pertaining to the incident had somehow vanished soon after they were recovered, their absence leaving nothing but a void of information. Then again, perhaps it would be best to leave such inquiries untouched... after all, knowing the identity of the person behind the incident might tempt certain individuals or countries into actions — actions that could potentially lead to unnecessary conflicts.

'And that was putting it mildly...'

Be that as it may, she also could not deny the fact that allowing such an individual to remain anonymous would undoubtedly have its own negative repercussions, not to mention the possibility for rash, unsolicited actions fueled by speculation and fear. At the end of the day, strategic-class magicians were feared for a reason, and even they required a number of support elements to achieve a fraction of what the unknown individual had accomplished.

For someone to do all that, vanish into thin air, while leaving nothing more than a minimal amount of traces? Mayumi didn't like it, and the daughter of Saegusa was fairly certain that anyone with a sane mind would've thought the same.

Regardless...

"Ah... the '2062', huh; even the Magic Association has yet to uncover anything substantial... and I don't think I ever made any progress with matters related to the magic used during the incident." Her slender fingers reached for a pastry on a nearby plate, a hint of intrigue dancing in her eyes. "So? Did you manage to learn anything new?"

"As of the moment? Nothing concrete, I'm afraid. Honestly, it is more of a personal curiosity at this point." The young woman readily admitted, her expressive eyes narrowing slightly as she scrutinized the images on the paper. "I've been going through some of the old records, trying to find overlooked details or connections that might shed light on the incident. Of course, the process proved to be quite tedious, and most of what I've gathered is mere speculation. Not to mention that it's difficult to make any significant breakthroughs when there is so little to work with."

"Well, as long as you don't push yourself too hard..." She nodded before taking a delicate bite of the pastry, though given her own work ethic, even Mayumi herself knew how hollow that advice sounded; it was something that her friends appeared to have noticed as well, considering the way the two seemed to be looking at her. "Oh, fine... just another hour, okay~? I'll wrap everything up in just another hour~!"

"As you should," the voice that came out of Mari's lips resonated with a rich, melodious chuckle — a sound that carried with it a mix of both warmth and camaraderie; her eyes twinkled with a hint of amusement as she shook her head, the echo of her laughter lingering in the air. "Might as well indulge in a little bit of teamwork... c'mon, which part of the spell do you need some help with? We'll lend you a hand and get this all sorted out; like they said, three heads are better than one, no?"

Proofreading and Editing by – (Try to send me a private message if any of you are interested).

Author's Note: Was taking a break from writing the last sidestory of my 'Remnant of Void Flame' fanfic (still sitting at 5.2k, btw~!), but then Y-Tube presented me with videos of some anime called Mahōka for some reason. Can't get it out of my mind, so I decided to just write a story and pair it with Honkai Impact 3rd — featuring all three main girls and some others like Dudu, Rita, Fu Hua, or Teriri and those from PHO — but again, Y-Tube's autoplay gave me a MAD video of Fate Strange/Fake. Eh, it only took me like one and a half hours to get this done, anyway. The things you could do with some proper motivations. And now, I just remembered that I should've done my 'Beyond The Veil' before moving to 'Remnant of Void Flame'... oh well... sorry if the chapter is bad, by the way. I didn't even do any in-depth research on both Mahōka and FS/F before writing the story. Just some of the more basic ones. If you hate the premise, then it's fine. If you like it, then good for you~

Disclaimer: Fate series belongs to TYPE-MOON; Mahōka Kōkō no Rettōsei belongs to Tsutomu Satō.

Next Update: Beyond The Veil followed by Remnant of Void and Flame.