"Enter." Athena said without further thought, guiding Mariya Yuri of Japan's History Compilation Committee into the room.
Directing her into an empty seat, Athena was a Goddess with proper etiquette and treated Yuri as a guest, even serving tea and coffee a proverbial olive branch of old rather than the original thing. Though, if tradition had any say, Athena would have conjured a branch of olives right away. It was just that she was unsure if people outside of Greece enjoyed olives.
Consideration. There was no God of Wisdom without it.
Friends were better than enemies unless they were friends to be plotted against.
Alas, this was a follower, a subject under her wing.
Athena was a magnanimous Goddess, especially when it was one of Japan's Hime-Miko carrying news that concerned her.
"Make yourself comfortable," Athena offered her gracious smile, few had the privilege of witnessing it, but alas, wee mortals would not know the true honour.
In fact, Yuri grew nervous at Athena smile. It made her feel like she was being seen through, like Athena could see her secrets and was smiling at her as only a God of Wisdom could.
Nervously shuffling her feet, Yuri was starting to think she was underdressed as she'd come only in her Jounan Academy uniform, a skirt and sailor top. Compared to the white dress Athena was wearing, and the strapped heels, as a woman, Yuri felt lacking.
But Yuri digressed, she came bearing news, not to play guest to Lady Athena.
"The snake's presence lingers in Japan." Yuri said, her eyes flickering with divine hues and shifting into the likeness of a mirror. "Of Steel and avarice, and honeyed candies steepled with poisoned ambition. The snake comes to reclaim that which makes it whole."
"Tch, she can try," Athena scoffed, more irked than anything else. "She seeks to claim what is already mine. While my origin may predate her to be my mother, in the words of Enkidu, childhoods end has long since passed. I am new the era, and she is but the old, no matter how she tries to obtain past glories."
With mirror-like eyes, the mortal Mariya Yuri seemed to lose her reservations about conversing with a Goddess and boldly conveyed every word. "One strike is all she'll need. The symbol of the snake consuming its prey has long been a sign of vitality and immortality. Manifested in your other half, it takes the form of an Authority that is your bane. Two halves of the same mirror, reflections, both parallel and conjoined. Only one may emerge after parasitizing the other."
"And you think this Goddess will lose?" Athena frowned.
"I think age comes with experience," Yuri said diplomatically.
As a Goddess of Wisdom, Athena need not argue the point to understand it. She pursed her lips in thought, reconsidering a direct confrontation. Weakened as the Snake was now, the Snake would avoid her until it grew strong enough to devour her.
The question then becomes how to capture the shadow lurking in the dark.
Subtly, Athena's contemplative gaze focused on a reliable ally, followed shortly after by Yuri who followed Athena's line of sight.
Although, Yuri was quick to refocus on Arturia who lay on the bed Shirou was watching over.
"Is Lady Pendragon faring well?" Yuri asked.
Athena nodded. "As is common with those who experience backlash from power they aren't used to, her body just needs recovery. She will surely wake as the connection between her and I is still strong. Regardless, I think I've come up with a plan of action."
"Really?" Yuri perked up. Having stray Heretic Gods roam over Japan was rather nerve wracking.
"Indeed," Athena acknowledged before standing up and walking to Shirou.
"The Master will be fine," Athena said, pushing Shirou away from Arturia.
For a moment, Shirou resisted, but after sensing no intention from Athena to do Arturia harm, his stance eased somewhat.
"What?" He hissed.
Athena's expression hardened.
"Get some air." She insisted. "Sitting here doing nothing is overkill when this Goddess can just as easily protect the Master."
"Fine job you did last time," Shirou quipped.
"Would you still say the same thing if the Master requested it of you to bring her to combat? To trust her?" Athena narrowed her eyes, irked at the unnecessary accusation.
Expectedly the emotional God of Steel had no counter response.
"Now. Go." Athena began shooing Shirou off.
"It would be safer with the both of us here," Shirou said.
"Really?" Athena drawled, consciously using her infinite wisdom. "Voban's knight came to the door. Don't worry, I sent her away, but you should know what she came for. Sure, stay with the Master, but don't be surprised if a stray Campione may come by to this 'set' location to challenge you."
"…"
"Now which do you think is safer, for you to be with the Master who may get swept up under collateral damage, or for you to draw attention elsewhere while she recovers?"
Done and set. Only fools argue with Gods of Wisdom.
"And don't say I'd be here to shield the Master from collateral damage. What of that Martial Arts Campione? She's just as likely to pick a fight with you as Voban, and whose to say those two won't make a mutual pact to handle one God each?"
Wordlessly, Shirou stared into Athena's smug face and drooped his shoulders when Athena began pushing him towards the door.
"Oh, and take this," Athena said, manifesting an emblem out of her divinity in the shape of the former Gorgonian sealing her powers.
Shirou glanced at it with a nuanced expression, trying to read Athena's goals, but falling short. He tried to muster the will to pull himself out of his inner thoughts to observe Athena's intentions, but he realized quickly that it just wasn't worth it.
Athena smiled as she read Shirou's tacit thoughts, placing her hands over Shirou's, she clasped his fingers over the emblem, making sure he had a firm grip of it.
"A good luck charm," Athena said. "Just carry it with you, and my- ahem, our current troubles should be resolved at the soonest possible moment without implicating the Master."
Shirou glanced at the emblem, then to Arturia, then back to Athena before wordlessly pocketing the item.
It wasn't worth the hassle, and trying to contradict a God of Wisdom was exceedingly inconvenient.
Right now, emptying his mind and reasserting his goals was more important than sounding Athena out when she was a clear ally under Command Seal of Arturia.
Everything said and done, Athena shoved Shirou right on out.
With Shirou gone, a dumbstruck Mariya Yuri finally mustered the will to broach the subject.
"Is this really the best course of action, Lady Athena?" Yuri's eyes reverted to normal, and with it, her demure disposition.
"You are young, priestess," Athena shrugged, making herself comfortable as she sat and crossed her legs. She indulged in giving the seer a little lesson. "Naïve and untested."
Athena raised a finger and adopted a lecturing pose reminiscent to the way she used to communicate to her believers in the Greek temple of Athena.
"There is much you must learn, but this Goddess will show grace and reveal a cardinal truth." Athena crossed her arms and saw into the distance where her owl familiars began to manifest and take to the air. "If your vision of prophecy be true, then Metis will surely appear before Shirou."
"…Isn't that just intuition?" Yuri felt sweat beading over her forehead.
"Ah, that's where you are wrong."
After all, a thin smile graced Athena's lip. She turned to address Yuri with mounting seriousness.
Metis was a Mother Earth Goddess with the Authority to usurp and swallow the power of Gods of Steel, encompassing the legend of the indulgent snake.
And Shirou's Steel, Athena could confidently say, that there was nothing else like it for the weakened snake with the ambition to usurp her.
As such, Athena's wisdom was just as much at play here as her gut feeling, and that combination was lethal.
"When wisdom and a woman's intuition align, it's no longer a guess."
Light flittered across Athena's pupils before the eyes of her owls kept track of Shirou's movements.
"It's a certainty."
Shirou was feeling suspicious and indecisive, and that was doing things to his mind that were difficult to explain.
This was an entirely different world, and the nature of those within it were wholly different from that of his original world. It was blatantly evident in the way the magic societies and Gods functioned through Authority rather than strictly magecraft.
This was to say, that the notion of a different world was already reinforced in Shirou's mind.
Then what was that?
The temperament Arturia had displayed, the techniques and the regality not seen in her usual appearance, they had appeared all at once as if an illusion.
Was this his promised miracle?
Shirou could not decide, when a mistake would mean the woman endlessly waiting would never know happiness.
If he lost himself to an 'image' of her, then what of the Saber that was waiting for him?
Alternatively, what if what he saw was his Saber, and he was forsaking the miracle that finally came to pass out of speculation?
Dammit.
The only one with proper answers was Arturia, and she was still out cold.
What comforted Shirou was that Arturia was in no danger of dying. Mana exhaustion was a common ailment. It would pass, and she would soon wake up. At least, that was how everyone knew it.
In reality, no one but Arturia knew she was remaining comatose not of her own volition, but because of the headache Pandora was dealing with in regards to Arturia.
Nonetheless, Shirou's thoughts were getting more and more muddled as he lost himself to his doubts.
Athena likely saw his dismal mentality and forcibly tried to find a means to ease his mind.
In the end, Shirou's walk led him to this alternate world's Fuyuki.
The city was exactly as he remembered it aside from the tragic fire that gave birth to his being and concept.
The nostalgia was a comfort difficult for him to describe, but it also gave a sense of home sickness.
Wandering through the streets, he inevitable found himself visiting his former traditional styled Japanese home, before visiting the Matou manor, and even the Tohsaka house. In the end, his feet took him to the place where it all began.
The place of the Fire.
Of course, there was no burnt ashes and devastation left here, making Shirou wonder if this was how Fuyuki would have looked like without that tragedy.
Part of the area had been modeled into a nature park where kids, students, and adults could bide their time in. Kids played in the park sets, while students laid blankets on the grass and had picnics. Adults stood by guard rails overlooking small creaks dug out for natural appeal.
Shirou sat down on a park bench, head bowed and letting his inner thoughts wander once more, but the notion would be short lived.
As much as Shirou's luck proved determinantal at the worst of times, he acknowledged that he had an uncanny likeliness to get mixed up with head strong women.
"If you keep looking at the ground, you miss everything that passes ahead of you," A woman said, grunting as she sat next to Shirou and huffed, as if she couldn't care less about him.
The subtle glances she was sending Shirou however were far from subtle. Even the minute trembling of her shoulders revealed she was both nervous and eager.
The face and appearance was unmistakable to Shirou.
To the red shirt and cross, to the miniskirt that was dangerously close to exceeding school regulations.
The twin tails, long black hair, and deep blue eyes were the final piece of the puzzle.
Rin?
Shirou blinked. Well, at least it was this world's version of Rin.
It made sense, Shirou had seen the Tohsaka house earlier which meant to say that someone must live in it.
"Excuse me?" Shirou murmured dumbfoundedly.
He didn't remember Rin to be the type to be proactive in helping others let alone be this forward.
"You looked a little down is all, not that I'd really care!" Rin Tohsaka hurriedly craned her chin up in scorn, trying to explain herself. "It's like passing a kicked puppy on the road, you just- ugh, dammit what's with that expression?!"
Shirou's mouth was gradually curling up.
Even in this world Rin couldn't be straight without trying to conceal her intentions.
A Tsundere through and through.
"Thanks," he said, genuinely relieved to see another familiar face even if it wasn't exactly the same person he once knew.
Rin scratched the side of her cheek, feigning calm while inwardly pleased that she'd finally mustered the will to speak to the man she'd been stalking- uhm, she meant admiring from a distance for some time now.
"Naturally," Rin graciously lowered her chin, arms crossing while the tips of her cheeks coloured from the appreciative expression on Shirou's face. "The world would be a better place if people just cared more for each other."
Right.
Was that what Rin really thought, or was that just the model answer?
Shirou glanced around at the crowded park and the old women and men shooting Rin appreciative glances.
A snort escaped Shirou's mouth as an overwhelming sense of nostalgia finally pulled him fully out of his contemplative slump. Whatever answers he wanted, it didn't change that he'd have to wait for Arturia to wake. There was no sense in hastily making assumptions.
Still, he needed a distraction while waiting for Arturia to wake up, and Rin's timing was much appreciated.
"You're prettier with your hair up in twin tails," Shirou said, watching Rin stiffen mid-action and refrain from undoing her hair ties.
It was always something Shirou had said to his Rin when she tried to seduce him with a disheveled appearance and cascading hair.
Rin flinched, awkwardly coughing into her hands. "I-I don't know what you're talking about but you have good taste! Not that it matters what you think."
Right, and the small smile on Rin's face meant nothing?
If it was Rin, she was cute to tease.
Shirou could see why Archer EMIYA had always been so snarky with her. It was…fun in a sense.
"So," Shirou drawled while glancing at Rin and their surroundings, noting that Rin was keeping within distance of a Fuyuki community park center and clicking her tongue.
Despite that, Rin had a tinge of concern while staring at a young foreigner child insisting that she was not a lost child to the community service officers.
Shirou looked between Rin and the foreigner.
"You're kid?" He said, unable to resist.
"She's not mine!" Rin growled. "My family line may have been from Europe, but do I look remotely like her?!"
Shirou smirked, knowing that Rin likely got involved in something troublesome again.
Rin shut her mouth, forcibly quelling her irritation. Now that she thought about it, it was also because of this child that she could talk with Shirou so perhaps no kind deed goes without reward?
"We need to take you to your guardian. A child can't just wander through the streets on their own." The service officer explained to the girl while Shirou and Rin listened in.
Lip twitching, the foreigner girl had enough with arguing and didn't want to waste effort on making a commotion. In the end, she pointed at Rin.
"Foresooth you incorrigible simpletons, my fellow ancestor will suffice as a guardian, now leave me alone!" The foreigner walked towards Rin and forcibly shooed off the service officers.
The way the eyes of the service officers glinted with magic energy caught Shirou's attention, but Rin was outraged when the service officers seemed to just accede to the foreign child's words.
"T-That's ridiculous!" Rin seethed, yelling to no avail. The service officers just walked off and the foreigner child, Guinevere, boldly approached Rin after noticing Shirou beside her.
Magic used to induce action?
Shirou noted the fluctuation of magic energy around Guinevere and decided to elevate his perception on her with Rin around.
A different Rin or not, Shirou could not stand by as Rin was dragged into something in over her head.
Rin had other explanations for the actions of the service officers.
"That's a breach of competence, I remember your names! I'll report you!" Rin threatened while still calling out.
She could only deflate when her threats also fell on deaf ears.
Rin pointed at Guinevere with a shaking finger.
"Why me?" She hissed beneath a façade of a happy face. A smile, yet not a smile. "You could have chosen anyone else."
"My name is Guinevere," Guinevere ignored Rin and focused entirely on Shirou. "Thou art a God of Steel mingling with mortals. How curious? Is this also an effect of Madness? Most-ack!"
Rin flicked Guinevere on the forehead, Guinevere pouting as she massaged the spot to soothe it.
"Children should listen when their elders speak," Rin chastised.
"Y-You, I am your elder!" Guinevere glared, stomping her feet.
"Alright, that's enough," Shirou intervened when he sensed Guinevere irritation agitating her magic energy. This world's Rin didn't know that she was arguing and even offending a magic user.
Guinevere's mouth clamped shut when Shirou leaned forward. She wasn't without protection, but coming to blows with a fellow God was not in her current agenda.
"Oh, so you listen to him but not me?" Rin grouched. "Well, he is kind of handsome…" She murmured while trailing off.
Shirou ignored it, focusing on Guinevere.
The name caught Shirou off guard, but nonetheless, his stance didn't change.
"I don't know what business you have with Rin, but you best leave the common folks out," he said.
"Common?" Guinevere looked confused. "Doth thou not sense- ah yes. Gods of Steel. Warriors all of them lacking finer perception. Though, its strange."
Guinevere glanced at Rin, confused why the divinity within Rin was making itself smaller and smaller as if terrified of being discovered by Shirou.
Well, it wasn't her concern.
"I am here on a quest," Guinevere admitted cordially. It was one thing to be cordial with fellow Gods, and another thing entirely against those damned Campione.
"A quest?" Shirou echoed.
"Perhaps thou could be of aid to me? I can pay thee with a suitable reward." Guinevere offered.
The entire thing smelled of another conspiracy trying to wrap itself around Shirou, but he should have known better.
Rather than being wary of a conspiracy that had yet to happen, he should have been more concerned about Athena's conspiracy currently at play as Shirou spoke.
All at once, the area darkened as a malevolent Divinity took over the space.
Shirou's expression hardened.
The domain of snakes symbolized slyness and evil in the older sects and religious doctrine.
An unmistakable figure appeared, staring at a dumbfounded Rin, a curious Guinevere, and doubtful Shirou.
"Athena?"
The figure was that of Athena's younger form before she got access to her sealed Divinity.
"Mother Earth that seeks Steel," the younger Athena murmured, staring fixedly at Shirou.
The younger Athena grinned, a tongue eagerly wetting her lips as her mouth elongated.
"Thou hath come at the right time."
The younger Athena, Metis, could sense it intuitively far better than Athena's wisdom.
She could tell.
If…If…she got that Steel…usurped it…no…even just a portion to mimic that Steel…
She swallowed; palms increasingly clammy with sweat.
…She would be invincible.
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