[Disclaimer: Fate/Stay Night and related works in this story belong to TYPE-MOON]
[This chapter has been reviewed by Grammarly, inhumane dialogues are expected.]
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The boy wandered cautiously through the remnants of the city; his gaze fixed on the flickering flames on the burning field. The air was thick with the acrid scent of burning embers, and the oppressive heat pressed down on him relentlessly. It was an unending heat, suffocating him with every step. His eyes stung from the smoke, and he struggled to catch his breath.
'So hot'
Despite the destruction around him, the boy pressed forward, ignoring the screams and cries that echoed through the air. The sight of the devastation made his heart heavy, and his eyes filled with tears. He wanted to collapse and give up but knew he had to keep moving forward. With each step, his body grew weaker, and his vision blurred.
"Do you truly wish to live?" Someone asked in his head.
'I don't want to die. I want to live."
Finally, the boy stumbled and fell to his knees, gasping for breath. The relentless heat reached its peak, and his consciousness began to fade away. Unbeknownst to anyone, his body succumbed to the scorching ground, and his soul, like a fleeting wisp, detached itself from his body.
In this timeless realm, Shirou stood on the floor of a giant ice castle, feeling a sense of wonder and awe mixed with fear and uncertainty. The air crackled with ethereal energy, and the hues of blue and white adorned the corridor, bathing it in an otherworldly glow. It was like nothing he had ever experienced, and he was both exhilarated and afraid.
'Where am I?' thought Shirou.
As Shirou wandered around, injured and alone, the castle's crystalline corridors seemed to stretch out endlessly, forming a vast labyrinth. Despite feeling lost and disorientated, he felt an irresistible pull towards the maze's heart. He tiptoed through the twisting corridors as if guided by an unseen force.
His heart raced with anticipation, and his palms grew clammy with sweat. He didn't know what awaited him at the maze's center, but he knew he needed to get out of the castle while staying alive.
In the heart of the crystalline maze, Shirou encountered a strange object—a red cube with a deep black core. Amidst the serene hues of blue and white that enveloped the labyrinth, this peculiar artifact stood out as an anomaly.
Shirou's heart was pounding in his chest as he approached the cube. He felt like he was on the verge of discovering something incredible.
He was determined to reach the red cube as he walked towards the maze's center. When he finally extended his hand towards it, a sudden surge of mana coursed through his body.
He was overwhelmed by the sheer power of the cube. Then, he fainted and was brought back to the fire.
Shirou's eyes fluttered open in the hospital room's soft lighting when a black-haired man walked in and sat nearby.
"Hello, You must be Shirou-kun. I found you in the fire." The man said, his voice holding a mix of happiness and concern at the same time. As Shirou tried to sit up, memories of the castle and the red cube lingered. He felt a surge of emotion as he remembered what had happened.
"My name is Kiritsugu Emiya," Kiritsugu began, steadying Shirou. "I found you in the fire."
Kiritsugu looked at him with a warm smile. "Alright, Shirou, I have to ask which would you prefer, being sent to an orphanage or being taken in by me, a man you've just met?"
Shirou thought, "Umm..." He shook his head and then pointed his index finger at Kiritsugu. "You," Shirou said. "I want to go with you."
Kiritsugu smiled and replied, "I'm glad. Then, let's get you dressed right away. You should get acclimated to your new home as soon as possible."
"Oh, I forgot to mention something important. There's something extremely important that I have to tell you, ready?"
"Mhmm," Shirou responded.
"I'm a magic user. Keep this a secret between us, okay?" Kiritsugu revealed.
As they left the hospital, Shirou couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. He had just met Kiritsugu, a stranger, yet he thought he could trust him. They walked in silence for a while until Kiritsugu finally spoke.
"I know this is all very confusing for you, Shirou, but I hope you can trust me. I promise to keep you safe and help you find your relatives." Shirou nodded, "Thank you, Kiritsugu. I don't remember much, but I need to find out what happened in that castle."
Kiritsugu looked at Shirou with a mix of curiosity and concern. "What castle, Shirou?"
Shirou hesitated for a moment, unsure whether he should reveal the truth to Kiritsugu. But he felt like he could trust him, so he told him everything.
"I don't know how to explain it, but I remember being in this maze in a castle made of ice. There was a red cube, and when I touched it, I blacked out. After that, I woke up in the hospital."
Kiritsugu listened intently, his eyes narrowing in thought. "I see. That's a very strange experience, Shirou. But don't worry, we'll try to figure that out together. For now, let's head to my place."
As they left the hospital, Shirou couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. He had just met Kiritsugu, a stranger, yet he thought he could trust him; he was his hero. They walked in silence for a while until Kiritsugu finally spoke.
"I know this is all very confusing for you, Shirou, but I hope you can trust me. I promise to keep you safe and support you whatever you do."
Shirou nodded and whispered, "Thank you, Kiritsugu. I don't remember much, but I want to know what that castle is."
Kiritsugu looked at Shirou with a mix of curiosity and concern. "What castle, Shirou?"
Shirou hesitated for a moment, unsure whether he should reveal the truth to Kiritsugu. But he felt like he could trust him, so he told him everything; after all, he was his hero, the one who saved him from near death.
"I don't know how to explain it, but I remember being in this maze in a castle made of ice. There was a red cube, and when I touched it, a chill ran down my spine. After that, I woke up in the hospital."
Kiritsugu listened intently, his eyes narrowing in thought. "I see. That's a very strange experience, Shirou. But don't worry, we'll try to figure that out together. For now, let's head to my place."
As they walked towards Kiritsugu's place, he couldn't help but ponder over what Shirou had told him. He had heard of strange hallucinations and visions before, especially in cases involving trauma or extreme stress. In other cases, mysteries were involved.
'This castle Shirou mentioned sounds like a hallucination,' Kiritsugu thought.
He didn't want to dismiss Shirou's experience outright, but the idea of a maze in a crystalline castle seemed far-fetched. Perhaps it was a coping mechanism for the trauma Shirou had experienced during the fire.
"I need to keep an open mind," Kiritsugu reminded himself; mysteries were real, after all. "If Shirou believes it to be real, then it is real to him."
Kiritsugu knew he needed to be patient with Shirou and help him make sense of his experience. He also needed to keep an eye on him, just in case there were any underlying psychological issues that needed addressing.
But for now, Kiritsugu just wanted to ensure Shirou was safe and comfortable. They arrived at Kiritsugu's place, and he showed Shirou to his soon-to-be room, where he could rest and recover.
[The next day]
The next day, Shirou woke up early, still feeling a bit disoriented from all that had happened. He got out of bed and looked out the window at the city. The sun was starting to rise, casting a golden glow over everything.
He took a deep breath and tried to shake off the strange feeling that had been with him since he woke up in the hospital. Kiritsugu had told him they would try to figure out what had happened, but for now, he needed to focus on getting used to his new home.
Shirou dressed and went to the kitchen, where Kiritsugu was already preparing breakfast. He greeted Shirou with a smile and a warm cup of tea.
"Good morning, Shirou. How did you sleep?"
"Pretty well. What are we having for breakfast?"
Kiritsugu chuckled. "I thought I'd make some pancakes. Is that okay?"
Shirou nodded eagerly. "Sounds great."
They sat down to eat, and Shirou couldn't help but feel grateful to Kiritsugu.
"Kiritsugu," Shirou asked nervously, "do you think I could become a magic user like you?"
He had taken him in and was doing everything he could to make him feel at home, so Shirou wanted to help Kiritsugu in every way possible.
Kiritsugu looked at Shirou severely and said, "To be a magus is to walk with death, Shirou." Kiritsugu's words hung heavily in the air for a few moments before he continued, "But if you truly want to learn, I will teach you. However, you must understand that the path of a magus is not easy. It requires discipline, sacrifice, and the willingness to make hard choices."
Shirou nodded, determined to do whatever it took to become a magus like Kiritsugu. "I understand, Kiritsugu. I'm willing to learn and work hard."
Kiritsugu gave Shirou a small smile. "Then we'll start this tonight. But remember, Shirou, the power of a magus is not something to be taken lightly. It can be both a blessing and a curse. So think carefully before you decide to pursue this path."
Shirou nodded again, grateful for Kiritsugu's guidance. He knew he had much to learn about magic and the world he was now a part of, but he was ready to do whatever it took to become like his adoptive father.
Author's Notes
Prologue done! This is my first time writing fanfiction so that the story structure might be weird. The idea of this story derives from a fanfiction called "The Crimson Prince of Reincarnation" by 'Reality Hacker.' It is a very interesting story, with him as Brunestud the Crimson Moon himself. It's too bad the sequel has yet to be published since. This story is also inspired by "Tainted Ideals" by Stormedge; if you have read the story, you would immediately know that the fire scenes are very similar. The next chapter will be about a brief explanation of Shirou's abilities and his current conditions. Don't worry, I won't make him that OP.
P/S: Criticisms are welcomed and appreciated. If you like this story, please follow and favorite. Also, I need beta testers to check my work before publishing. I can't always use AI to check my work; they look inhumane. If interested, DM me.
Signed,
Writer-kun