Rin Tohsaka was a perfectionist, a model student, and the epitome of noble class and elegance.

Her family used to own the entire area of Fuyuki in Japan, trading gems and diamonds with their lucrative investment plans and tax evasiv- ahem; legal. All legal means, but she digressed.

Waking up in a large mansion, Rin shook her head to clear her grogginess and went about her day alone. Both of her parents were deceased you see, and her only younger sister was estranged after certain arrangements with their father and inheritance left the family situation in shambles.

But Rin was better than just mopping. She was the Heiress of the Tohsaka line, and couldn't let weakness bring her down.

Changing out of her white night gown, she yawned while getting into a shower and making herself presentable for the day. She had long black hair, matted from sleep, it wouldn't be its usual silky like texture unless she cared properly for it.

A girl's weapon and charm were first and foremost, their hair. Therefore, Rin didn't complain about long morning routines as much as she complained about old clocks in the house being set an hour back.

Haaaaa, Rin sighed, massaging her temples.

Something hadn't been feeling right with her this morning.

Tying up her hair into pig tails after showering, she brushed the sides evenly before getting dressed in a red sweater and short skirt for the day. It was a Sunday, so there was no need to be wearing a school uniform today- not that it would make much difference.

Her school, Homurahara Academy had tragically undergone an unfortunate freak weather accident that put the school out of commission until repairs were done.

Rin, just like many other students in Homurahara was offered different school locations to study in while Homurahara was being repaired. The choice would be up to her, and unlike other students, Rin had the leisure of long absence period while choosing.

She was a model student, and her grades were far above the rest. She milked the absence period for as long as she could, but would have to attend school again come Monday.

Her choice was Jounan Academy, a little way off from Fuyuki. Though, the real reason she chose Jounan was that it was away from Issei Ryoudo who insisted she was a two-faced witch.

She'd show Issei 'Two-Faced' if they met in a back alley. Oh, the guy better watch his back.

Going about her morning, Rin suddenly stumbled, her lips pursing as she continued to nurse her head.

What the heck?

Rin grimaced. Something hadn't been feeling right since the moment she woke up. Of course, there was that dream last night about random clam shells, an ocean breeze, and incessant yelling, but that could have just been her neighbors.

Still, Rin paused while in front of her mirror, hands placing themselves over her cheeks.

Wasn't her complexion positively radiant today?

Her skin was clean, free of clogged pores and blemishes. Oh Rin, your beauty truly is without compare.

Making sure her hair was tied up properly, Rin got rid of her grogginess and soon went about her day.

Her first day of Jounan Academy would start tomorrow, so she had to pick up her new uniform and potentially scope out of the new academy grounds.

First impressions were a thing to set the 'right idea' about a person so Rin had to put the effort in to complete the façade of a model student and lady.

Honestly, it was utterly vain, but objectivity eluded Rin in this particular field.

Reputation and upstanding image were things Rin felt came naturally to her.

Walking towards Jounan Academy, Rin paused as she was passing by a market, hesitation and expectation in equal parts serving as motivation.

Eyes darting left and right, Rin blushed before camping out by the roadside stalls, out of sight, and too early for businesses to start, but within view of the market.

There was no one in Homurahara whom Rin was particularly interested in, and Shinji Matou's one-sided delusions were aggravating at best, but she too was a young woman.

Recently, while out scoping Jounan Academy's neighborhood, she'd spotted an individual that sparked her interest.

Rin wasn't an advocate for love at first sight, but at the very least, she felt a compelling sense of nostalgia and longing when she'd first spotted the man. It was weird, certainly, yet it was also a kind of guilty pleasure to stake the man out and catch glimpses.

Everyday, just around this hour, the man in question would come to the market to buy food and groceries.

Always kind and modest to the vendors, his name was quite well known in the markets inner circle of grandmothers trying to pair their daughters with good men.

Shirou, huh?

Rin wet her lips, and recalled the image of the tall man, his broad shoulders, and the earnest gaze of his. He appeared a tad older than her, but he was by no means in his thirties. Therefore, she assumed he was a young university student, and being as Rin was in her graduating year, the man was clearly in her strike range.

However, embarrassment clouded Rin's mind as she recognized she was essentially stalking a pretty boy, but sadly, he didn't seem to come again this morning.

Rin didn't know what happened.

Shirou hadn't come to the market to buy groceries for a couple days now, and Rin had noticed he practically came everyday. The grocery bill must have been outrageous, or he was feeding several pigs with the amount he was going through.

Nonetheless, it was such a shame.

Rin clicked her tongue and decided it was time to get moving before others could notice her dubious behaviour and question her on it.

Making sure no one was paying particular attention to her, Rin straightened her clothes, pretended to cough, and then moved back to the central road side. At least that had been the plan until she'd bumped into a young girl whom she swore was not there before!

Flustered, Rin immediately did diagnostics on her situation.

Oh, a foreigner?

The little girl, twelve if anything, barely reached over Rin's waist-line. The girl's long blond hair was styled into drills, causing no small amount of revulsion in Rin from this other girl she knew as a rival she'd met in a Europe trip.

Damn Edelfelt.

Rin inwardly simmered, but wasn't above letting her inner demons show to an innocent young girl. Especially one who didn't seem capable of blending in to Japan's style sense.

The girl was basically wearing an old-fashioned European dress with matching corset and laces. There was even a tiara and crown on her head.

A cosplayer?

"Most interesting," the girl spoke while her red eyes gleamed, staring Rin up and down. "A first-generation ancestor? It shouldn't have been long since thy divinity had been cut off from the whole…"

O-Oh God, was this role play?

Rin's brow twitched. "If you need help, I'm sure that someone else can- I mean you poor thing!"

The girl spoke in English, and since Rin was smart, she had no trouble understanding, but the context was too cringy.

Worse, there was no way Rin bumping into a child wouldn't have drawn attention. Rin couldn't have herself perceived as a woman who refused to help a lost child, delusional cosplayer or not.

Some way or another, this must have been Issei's fault. Issei had always been wishing bad luck on her, and that boy lived in a temple. Ah, then a curse?

Oh, Issei better not meet her in a back alley. Rin was trained in martial arts!

Focus. Focus! Look, classmates wearing Jounan Academy uniforms!

Among the whispering crowd could be her new peers.

"Let this older sister help you out." Rin said with a strained smile as she crouched down to the little girl's level.

Rin sweat dropped before sighing in relief when her potential classmates eventually passed by while whispering only good things about her: that she knew fluent English to help a foreigner.

She refused to let her reputation take a blow!

S-Safe.

Rin let out a breath of relief, but was once again met with blank red eyes staring at her in monotone.

"Forsooth, thou art a peculiar one, but thy body flows with a subtle yet peculiar divinity." The little girl raised her chin up, a subtle air of arrogance rising. "Thy best be careful of rare gems and rubies lately if thy wishes to avoid disaster."

"Says the child with drill locks," Rin pinched the bridge of her nose, uncaring of the girl's sudden flustered expression as she'd cry.

"M-My looks are sublime," The girl wilted, her arrogance deflating before she bit down on her lips.

Rin shook her head, tired before she'd even started consoling.

"Okay, what's your name?" Rin sighed again. "Tch, If you're lost, I'm sure there's a social service office nearby. I'll point the way- No I'll just take you there."

Too many people were watching, and Rin didn't want to be labeled as woman who'd leave a vulnerable child.

"Services?" The little girl tilted her head, before shaking it. "Ah, you mean an introduction? Very well. This esteemed one goes by the name of Guinevere, but thy may call me the Witch Queen or Witch of Brittany!"

Guinevere put her arms on her side, hands on her hips, and puffed up her non-existent bosom.

W-Was there something wrong with her head? Were foreigners so different?

Rin's brow twitched incessantly. Why her?

Rin, you've stepped on a landmine, no; a turd on the road!

Rin had to somehow extricate herself from responsibility or even association. People were whispering.

"J-Just follow me," Rin could bare the scrutiny no longer and took Guinivere by the hand, guiding her along. "If you're lost, ill just help you."

"This esteemed one is not lost. Mine cup and mine sense guide the way," Guinevere proudly showed off the gold grail Rin only now noticed Guinivere was hugging.

Oh no.

Oooh no.

The story was set in Rin's mind.

"You shouldn't steal your parent's valuables and run away only to get lost," Rin finally gave up and started earnesty lecturing.

"Y-You what doth thou mean?" Guinevere was dragged by Rin, face coloured in utter confusion.

Rin's shoulders slouched; her day's plans suddenly scrapped at the dawning realization that this was going to take a while.

Endure Rin. Endure.

"U-Unhand this Queen's hand at once!"

All children were mental in one way or another.

Foreigners…

Time was supposed to heal all wounds, but there were some things that just couldn't be healed.

Sentiment was one of them.

Arturia had yet to wake up, and Shirou had not once left her side, albeit for reasons even Athena could not readily discern.

The Goddess of Wisdom and Patron of the Owls and Snakes sat leisurely on a recliner while doing 'research' about modern culture through a device known as a TV.

Quietly, Athena shut off the program and turned to face Shirou.

"Do you not bore yourself with inactivity?" She asked, feeling antsy.

A part of her was still irked that Perseus hadn't been completely dealt with even with her and Godou fighting him. The Greek God who's origin could stem to Marduck of Mesopotamian mythology had wisely retreated and fell into hiding.

Part of why Athena had been spending time watching TV, was to research any unusual news across the world for signs of her quarry. Her honour could not stand imperfection, and that was why she was speaking with Shirou again.

Wisdom dictated that if anyone had a method of quickly locating Perseus, it was Shirou and his versatility as a God of Steel.

However, nothing could detract Shirou's priorities away from Arturia. He was too fixated. Often, Athena spotted doubts, confusion, and bewilderment in his gaze, mixed in with guilt.

"…"

Athena sighed at the lack of response. Worse, Shirou didn't even mean it as Athena could observe that Shirou was too engrossed in his own thoughts to have even registered her words.

What a bother.

Athena had already insisted that there was nothing wrong with Arturia. It was just a matter of the child waking up from overexertion from using divine power.

There was a reason Mortal's were limited against Gods and Campiones, and it was because their mortal bodies could not act as proper vessels of divine power.

Of course, Athena was aware that Arturia was an anomaly considering the change she'd undergone mid-battle.

Athena had many speculations, but now wasn't really the time.

The sound of a doorbell echoed, and Athena supposed she had no choice but to go herself.

Shirou wouldn't leave Arturia's side, and it wasn't worth making him do the menial work until Arturia's condition was verified.

By it wasn't worth it, Athena meant Shirou would act too mechanical and shrug off needless speculations.

Besides, Athena was better in this field.

Moving towards the door of the executive suite the group was staying within, Athena was met with the nervous face of Liliana Kranjcar, of a magic order Athena couldn't care less about.

Athena wracked her brain for a moment, and then remembered the only thing worth remembering about this girl. She was the attendant of one of the oldest Campione on the Earth, Voban.

And if it was Voban…

"No." Athena said flatly before closing the door on Liliana's face.

"Goddess Athena please!" Liliana grew flustered and yelled through the door. "Just hear me out."

What was there to hear?

Athena already knew that Voban was insistent about getting a rematch with the Rune Witch of legend, something she knew Shirou wasn't exactly up for right now. In his current state, Athena wasn't sure if a requested 'spar' would turn into a 'murder.'

Grimacing, Athena opened the door and gave Liliana a piercing stare.

"I-I just, no we just, ok fine. It's another sparring request but please. Milord's patience is-"

Athena shut the door. Voban was too predictable.

It wasn't until Liliana dejectedly left that Athena tried to move away from the door, but this time, another guest came.

It was another woman, but from an organization Athena had arguably subverted and placed herself, Shirou, and Arturia as its leaders.

Yuri of Japan's History Compilation Organization was at the front door.

"Yes?" Athena said, a visible twitch forming on her brow.

Yuri opened her mouth, nervousness bleeding off of her before she spoke a single name that caused Athena's complexion to harden.

"Metis."

A prophecy of the Gorgonian and the creeping force of serpant mother.

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