Chapter 1 - Guardian of Red
This is the story of a unique future, what was of a mystical island that was reduced to the Land of Fairies. Those who have no sin, leave now, for here you will find the queen's bottomless castle.
They accumulate like rain or ash, they disappear like snow or lies.
Our hopes are on the shelf or still in the hands of the queen. But we just need to hold on a little longer. At the dawn of the year two thousand, the prophesied child will appear.
The boy who will unite fairies and humans. The boy who will save the world. Although too small for others to see, the child will be drawn to the light here like a moth to the flame.
Once the boy has seen the catastrophe in the iron city and the sea, his journey will truly begin. Chosen by the Staff of selection, the savior, guarded by travelers who came from afar, will find the Red Guard and with his help, will then reach the throne.
The throne will be claimed by the true king and he will take the bloody crown.
May the six bells ring like furious lightning, like afflicted flames. Let them resonate and forge a path for the true king. Let them ring before the red calamity reaches us. Before the black disaster devours us alive.
Although we may not be the most diligent of people, we are still free descendants of the fairies. Without thinking about ourselves, all we wish for is a brighter tomorrow.
Shirou woke up slowly, feeling the softness of the vegetation under his body. He stood up carefully, noticing a weakness that enveloped him after passing through the portal. "Where am I? Why do I feel so weak?" he muttered to himself as he struggled to stay upright. Every step was a fight against the dizzy feeling that threatened to take him down.
In the distance, he glimpsed a town stretching out among the trees. He decided to head there in search of answers and help. The journey seemed endless, with each step feeling his strength wane even further. Fatigue and confusion clouded his mind as he trudged along.
Finally, almost without energy, he arrived at the entrance of the town. His vision became blurry, and his body couldn't take it anymore. He collapsed to the ground, attracting the attention of the locals nearby. Among the crowd, a young woman stood out: a small-town girl with blonde hair and emerald eyes.
The girl had gone out on a simple errand when she came across the scene. She looked at Shirou in surprise, determined to help. She approached him carefully and examined him before making a decision. "He must be exhausted. He needs to rest," she thought to herself.
Determined to do something good for someone else, the anonymous girl offered to take Shirou to her house so he could recover. The crowd exclaimed. "The Son of Prophecy is helping him, he expected nothing less!", leaving them alone on their way to the modest home. As she guided him, he wondered who this stranger was and why he was so weakened.
The girl's shyness mixed with her curiosity as she took care of Shirou. She did not know what her fate held for her, but something in her drove her to help that stranger.
The house was simple but cozy, with time-worn furniture and details that showed a humble life. The girl helped Shirou lie down on a small bed, making sure he was comfortable.
The stranger was still weak and disoriented, but grateful for the kindness of his temporary host. The girl, despite her usual shyness, began to speak softly to calm Shirou's nerves. "Don't worry, you'll be fine here. Do you want some water or something to eat?" she offered gently.
Shirou, still recovering, nodded gratefully. As the girl headed to the kitchen to get something for him, Shirou observed his surroundings. The walls of the house were adorned with simple but charming drawings and decorations that revealed an artistic touch. "This is her house?" she thought, somewhat intrigued.
The girl returned with a glass of water and some bread, offering them to Shirou with a kind smile. "It's the best I can offer you for now. My name Arturia Caster. And you?" She introduced herself timidly, hoping to know the name of her unexpected visitor.
Shirou, grateful for the hospitality, replied, "I'm Emiya Shirou. Thank you for helping me, Arturia. It's a pleasure to meet you." he said as he thought about how lucky he was to be able to find her.
Can I ask you how you got here? We never see many outsiders around these parts," Arturia said curiously.
Shirou, grateful for the hospitality, decided to share a simplified version of his story. "I was in a different place, and suddenly I found myself here. It's a little confusing for me too," he explained, without revealing too many details.
The girl, still curious but respectful, accepted Shirou's answer. She sat close to her, letting the conversation flow.
Shirou, noticing that he was in an unknown place, looked around with some confusion. Arturia, the girl who had helped him, looked shyly at her own hands, as if she wasn't sure what to do next. The room was filled with soft light filtering through the curtains, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
"Where am I?" Shirou asked, feeling a little stronger after collapsing upon arriving at the village. Arturia, with her calm but reserved expression, replied, "You are in the village of Tintagel. My home..."
The door opened at that moment, revealing Arturia's mother, who entered with a kind smile. "I'm glad to see you're feeling better," she commented. "I heard that my daughter brought someone injured, so she came immediately." Her eyes showed concern and genuine hospitality.
Grateful, Shirou shared his feelings, "Yes, it's all thanks to Arturia. She was the only one who came forward to help me, and I'm very grateful to her." As he spoke, he noticed the slight blush on Arturia's cheeks, making him smile internally at the sweetness of her.
Determined to repay the kindness they had shown him, Shirou added, "Please allow me to return the favor. It's the least I can do." Arturia's somewhat thoughtful mother sensed the young man's honesty and nodded with a smile, considering the offer kindly. "Get yourself together first. When you're ready, you could help Arturia with some errands." The suggestion resonated in the air, and Shirou gratefully accepted the proposal.
As Arturia's mother and her daughter left the room, Shirou lay back down again, pondering the unexpected turn of events. His thoughts turned to the uncertain future that awaited him in this new place, but a silent determination began to grow inside him.
After a few days, Shirou woke up feeling the cold of the humble room in which he found himself. Although he wasn't sure how much time had passed, he felt stronger and determined to get up. Determinedly, he stood up and left the modest room.
The kitchen was filled with the aroma of homemade food. Arturia's mother, noticing Shirou's presence, greeted him with a warm and friendly smile. "Shirou, I'm glad to see you're feeling better. You were asleep for two days," the woman shared as she prepared something in the kitchen.
Shirou, somewhat sorry for being a burden, apologized, "I'm sorry for any trouble she caused. I really appreciate her kindness." The mother, however, brushed it off: "Don't worry, anyone in Tintagel would be happy to help someone in need. Do you want to eat something? I'll prepare something for you to regain your energy."
Grateful, Shirou accepted the offer and shared a pleasant moment with Arturia's mother. While he was enjoying the meal, he took the opportunity to ask, "Where is Arturia? I would like to catch up and thank you for her help." The mother, entertained by the conversation, responded: "She must be in the town square. If you want, after eating, you can look for her and ask her to show you the city."
After giving thanks for the food, Shirou and Arturia's mother shared a quiet moment in the cozy kitchen. The woman felt that it was time and decided to get rid of her internal doubts. While they both enjoyed the home-cooked food, she began to talk about Arturia's situation in the village.
"You know, Shirou, you may already know but Arturia is the Son of the Prophecy. Some here in Tintagel do not accept her for her origin or simply do not believe that she is the Son of the Prophecy, and that has led to her being despised. "It's a difficult situation for her," the mother confessed sincerely, hoping that Shirou would understand the complexity of Arturia's life in the village.
With a sympathetic expression, Shirou nodded. "I understand about her. I don't care where she comes from. I will help her as much as I can and protect her," she responded with determination, feeling the responsibility to take care of Arturia, especially after learning more about her situation. .
At this moment, the mother observed Shirou carefully and asked him carefully, "Shirou, you... are from another world, right?"
Surprised, Shirou almost spit out all the food as he wondered how she knew. The woman, noticing her surprise, knew she hit the mark so she decided to share more information. "I have heard of the Prophecy of Ainsel. It says that the Son of the Prophecy will be helped by people from another world and a guardian in red to defeat Queen Morgan. Could it be that you...?"
Shirou, connecting the dots, understood the situation and, unable to do anything to avoid it, nodded. "Yes, I am from another world. I didn't want to hide it from you but… I didn't expect you to believe me. I was sent to this world to protect Arturia and help her fulfill her destiny," he revealed solemnly.
Arturia's mother nodded, grateful for Shirou's honesty. The conversation continued, further strengthening the bond between them and clearly establishing Shirou's role as the protector come from another world to assist the Son of Prophecy.
After savoring the comfort food, Shirou stood up and said goodbye to Arturia's mother grateful for her understanding. Determined to resume his responsibilities, he headed towards the town square in search of Arturia. He was eager to catch up with her and contribute what he could to repay the kindness shown to her at Tintagel.
Shirou wandered the narrow cobblestone streets of the modest village of Tintagel, marveling at the rustic architecture of the small wood and stone houses. After walking for a while, he arrived at the central plaza, where the calm atmosphere was disturbed by an unpleasant scene.
On the ground, Arturia, was being harassed by a group of village children. Teasers and shoves rained down on her while the children uttered cruel insults. "You should just die. In all this time you have done nothing to help us!" Shirou, witnessing the injustice, felt a spark of anger ignite within him.
"Hey, stop it already!" Shirou shouted, rushing towards the scene with determination. He stepped between Arturia and the hostile children, challenging them with a determined look. "Don't you have something better to do than bother someone younger than you?"
One of the boys, a little bolder, approached Shirou and snapped, "And who are you to tell us what to do?" After observing him for a moment, the boy recognized him. "Ah, you are the newcomer! Well, it seems that you don't know, but I will explain: she is a Fairy of Paradise. All fairies like her are most despicable, besides, she cannot be the Son of Paradise. "Prophecy, it's so weak."
Shirou, undeterred, responded firmly, "Listen, I don't care who she is. It doesn't give you the right to judge her without knowing her. She's kind and kind-hearted. I'll only say it once." In a swift gesture, he projected a sword that stabbed into the ground, attracting everyone's attention. "I am the Guardian of the Son of Prophecy, Emiya Shirou, and I will not stand by and watch her be mistreated!"
The strength and determination in Shirou's words resonated throughout the place, and the children, recognizing him as the Guardian, decided to disperse immediately. Shirou turned to Arturia with a comforting expression. "Are you okay?" he asked, offering her his helping hand again.
Arturia, although initially surprised by Shirou's intervention, soon noticed the security and protection emanating from him. She looked at Shirou with gratitude and surprise, her emerald eyes reflecting a mix of awe and gratitude.
"Thank you," Arturia whispered, accepting the helping hand Shirou offered to stand up. Although his expression was still timid, a glint of determination could be seen in his eyes. "No one had ever done anything like that for me before..." she muttered to herself.
Shirou smiled reassuringly, conveying to her that she could trust him. "No one should be treated that way, least of all someone as kind as you," he replied truthfully.
Arturia, feeling Shirou's support, began to gain confidence. Her cheeks, previously tinged with blush from her embarrassment, relaxed a little. With curiosity reflected in her eyes, she couldn't contain herself and she asked Shirou directly: "Shirou, are you the guardian in red of the prophecy?"
Shirou, remembering his own words of commitment, decided not to hide the truth. "In short, yes," she answered honestly. "Let's go to your house, I'll explain everything to you there. There's a lot you need to know and I'll answer all your questions."
Once in Arturia's cozy house, their mother poured them a glass of water and left them alone so they could talk.
Shirou took the lead, revealing to Arturia his true purpose: "This is something I planned to tell you eventually, but your mom already found out everything, so I'll tell you now. I was sent by Merlin to help you on your path of the Son of the prophecy."
Surprise crossed Arturia's face, her green eyes blinking in disbelief. "Did you meet Merlin?" she asked in amazement.
Confused, Shirou replied, "Yes, don't you?" Arturia shared that thanks to her Staff of Selection, she was able to talk to Merlin, who taught her some of her magic.
Thoughtfully, Shirou suggested, "Can't you contact him right now? I'd like to ask him some questions." Arturia lowered her gaze, her expression revealing a bitter reality. "I'm sorry, I can't. Right now, I don't have my Staff. They took it from me because I can't have items with me."
Indignation was reflected on Shirou's face, his eyebrows furrowing in disapproval. "How can this town treat you like this when you're doing everything you can to save them?"
Arturia, without responding, seemed immersed in her own thoughts. Shirou, noticing his discomfort, apologized, "I'm sorry." He decided to change the subject: "Do you have any questions you want to ask me?" Arturia, remembering Shirou's impressive magic in the plaza, asked, "How did you make that sword appear? It was incredible."
Shirou, relieved at the change of subject, smiled: "That's the magic I specialize in. I can project any sword I can see." He demonstrated his skill by making a katana appear, his gestures precise and confident, leaving Arturia completely surprised. "Wow, that's cool. You remind me of Grandpa Ector, he's a blacksmith who creates the best weapons."
Enthusiastically, Arturia continued: "I know, tomorrow we'll go visit Grandpa. I'll introduce him to you. He's a bit bitter, but he's a good person." Shirou accepted the proposal: "A blacksmith, huh? Well, tomorrow we will go visit him. He might help me with some things I have in mind. For now, you should go to sleep; it's already too late." Arturia yawned and, somewhat embarrassed, left the room to rest. "Rest," they said to each other. Arturia reflected a mixture of surprise and relief at knowing that she was not alone. Her lips formed a small smile, grateful for Shirou's presence.
Arturia's mother, from the door, watched with gratitude at the connection that was forming between the two, trusting that Shirou would be a valuable support for her daughter.
That's it for chapter 1, thanks for the comments both in the English and Spanish versions, I will follow the advice to improve in each chapter.
See you in the next chapter.