[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 stumbled through the ruined city, his heart heavy with despair. Everywhere he looked, there was nothing but destruction and chaos. The once-bustling streets were now empty and barren, and the only sounds were the distant cries of those in agony. The oppressive heat was suffocating, making it hard for him to breathe. The smoke stung his eyes and made him cough, and with each step, his body grew weaker.
He wanted to cry out in despair, but he knew that it would do no good. There was no one left to hear him, no one left to offer comfort or hope. The world around him was a wasteland, a barren and lifeless place. The boy felt like he was the last person left alive, and he didn't know if he could continue.
"I don't want to die." A voice said in his head.
He didn't know how to answer. Part of him wanted to keep fighting against the despair and find a way to survive. But another part of him wanted to give up, to let the relentless heat and destruction take him. The boy closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to find the strength to keep going.
But it was too much. The heat was too intense, the destruction too overwhelming. The boy stumbled and fell to his knees, gasping for breath. His vision grew blurry, and he felt his consciousness slipping away. At that moment, he knew that he was truly alone and that there was nothing left for him in this world.
'Where am I?' thought Shirou.
As Shirou stood on the floor of a massive ice fortress, he was struck by the overwhelming sense of awe and wonder surrounding him. The sheer size and beauty of his surroundings were almost too much to comprehend.
Despite the breathtaking scenery, he couldn't shake the feeling of unease and uncertainty that gnawed at him. There was something mysterious and intriguing about this place that he couldn't quite grasp.
As Shirou stumbled through the intricate and labyrinthine corridors of the castle, his injuries weighed heavy on him, and he felt lost and disoriented. The crystalline walls seemed to stretch out endlessly, forming a maze that seemed impossible to navigate.
As he cautiously made his way through the twisting hallways, his heart raced with anticipation, and his palms grew clammy with sweat. He had no idea what awaited him at the maze's center, but he knew he needed to survive and find a way out of the castle.
As he progressed deeper into the maze, he stumbled upon an object that seemed entirely out of place in the labyrinth. A red cube with a striking black center lay before him, its vivid colors standing against the calm shades of blue and white surrounding him.
Shirou's heart pounded as he approached the cube, sensing it might hold the key to his escape. He walked towards it, still unsure of what he would find. When he finally reached out to touch the cube, a sudden surge of mana coursed through his body, filling him with energy and power.
Despite feeling overwhelmed by the sheer force of the cube, Shirou held onto it tightly, hoping that it would somehow aid him. And then, as he clung to the cube, he felt his strength give out, and his body fell limp as he lost consciousness 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 reminisced.
"My name is Kiritsugu Emiya," Kiritsugu began, looking at Shirou kindly. "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, then shook his head and 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?"
Shirou nodded,
"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, I lacked 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 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.
"Get some rest, Shirou. We'll talk more later tomorrow," Kiritsugu said as he closed the door behind him.
Kiritsugu sat down at his desk, deep in thought. He needed to come up with a plan to help Shirou, but he didn't know where to start.
"I need to do some research," Kiritsugu thought. "There must be something out there to help me understand what's going on."
[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. But there might be uh... little burns on them, is that alright?"
Shirou nodded. "That's fine with me."
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