These past two weeks have been quite intense. We have experienced a significant increase in bookings at work, pushing us to operate at full capacity. As a result, there has been a higher number of patients visiting the medical area, which is always a pleasure to handle. Despite the additional workload, I'm pleased to share that I have completed this chapter.

Although it didn't turn out exactly as I initially planned, you do what you can! So here we are again.

KaleidoMirror is proud to present this work to all of you.

Finally, I have reached a part of the story that I have always wanted to develop. This chapter will provide deeper context about Shirou and my intentions for his character. I hope you enjoy this new proposal and find the twists and added details intriguing. Please let me know your opinions and thoughts.

I appreciate your patience and continuous support. I would love to hear in the comments which story you would like me to prioritize for faster updates. Your comments and suggestions are crucial to me, and I take them seriously to improve and adjust the narrative according to your preferences.

I want to remind you that "Harry Potter" and all its literary installments, as well as the original film adaptations, belong to the author J.K. Rowling. Additionally, I have been inspired by "Fate/Stay Night" and its various adaptations and visual novels, originally created by Kinoko Nasu and Type-Moon.

Are you ready?

Enjoy the read!

– Potions Class –

For the remainder of the class, Shirou felt like he was trapped in a real torture chamber.

Professor Snape kept a relentless watch over him, making him feel that every move he made was under unforgiving scrutiny. Not only did Snape reprimand students for their mistakes, but he also seemed particularly interested in Shirou's bespectacled friend. Shirou began to suspect there was more behind this obsessive attention than just Harry's fame.

The man constantly hovered around him, his sunken, cold eyes following every step he took while preparing his potion.

"Potter!" Snape snapped with disdain. "Can't you follow basic instructions?"

"I'm doing it exactly as the book says, Professor," Harry said, trying to focus on his work but shrinking under Snape's severe gaze. "It's just that…"

"If this is the best you can do, Potter," Snape replied, his tone dripping with visible contempt for all in the classroom, "your feeble attempts are a ridiculous mockery."

Meanwhile, Ron fared no better. Snape discovered mouse stains on his robe and, with a wave of his wand, suspended Scabbers by his tail in the air. "It seems this will make a perfect specimen for future experiments," Snape proclaimed, and Ron paled, nearly crying in despair.

"Professor, please don't do that!" Ron pleaded, trying to change Snape's mind as he saw Scabbers held firmly.

"Silence, Weasley," Snape said coldly. "This mouse is nothing but a nuisance in my class."

Curiously, Scabbers seemed to understand his fate, writhing and squealing miserably in the air. But just when the mouse's fate seemed sealed, Neville Longbottom accidentally burned his cauldron, diverting Snape's attention.

"Longbottom, how can you be so clumsy?" Snape muttered, releasing the mouse to deal with the incident before it got worse. Apparently, Scabbers had experienced a miracle that saved him.

"That was close," Hermione murmured, breathing a sigh of relief but watching anxiously as Snape punished Neville and deducted points from Gryffindor.

"I'm sorry, Professor, really sorry," Neville stammered, trying to clean up the mess.

Shirou felt sorry for his friend, thinking none of this would have happened if he had left his pet in his room. He also felt a certain pity for Scabbers, considering how unfortunate the creature's last few days had been.

– 5th Dungeon Corridor –

(Outside the Potions Class)

The class ended, and the students fled the dungeon with relief.

"Oh my God, how could Dumbledore hire Snape? He almost killed Scabbers!" Ron exclaimed angrily as they walked through the corridors, trying to calm his trembling pet.

Harry, walking beside him, nodded, clearly frustrated. "Snape has something against me, Ron. It definitely has to do with Malfoy. I saw them talking very familiarly at the end of class!"

It was obvious that the relationship between Harry and Snape was tense, and the atmosphere in the potions class had only made things worse. No one in the group could understand why Professor Snape hated Harry so much, but they decided to calm down and move on.

"Well, at least that torture session is over," Shirou sighed.

"Harry, we need to prepare better for his next class," Hermione suggested, trying to lift their spirits, seeing her friends' sad and angry faces. "If we do, we'll know how to respond correctly to any question he throws at us."

Despite her good intentions, her words didn't have the desired effect, leaving the atmosphere in complete silence.

"Besides, both Shirou and I managed to reach the right conclusion, so from now on he won't make things difficult for us."

"I think that's a bit of a stretch," Shirou intervened, feeling embarrassed, but sighing before speaking honestly, though a bit stammering. "Hermione, you're exaggerating... It was just a stroke of luck that I could answer correctly. It really all comes down to the two weeks of intensive study with you in the library, not to mention... your book was very helpful. It was a really special gift."

"It's nothing, Shirou," Hermione replied, blushing at the unexpected compliment, trying to downplay it. "I'm glad you liked it."

Ron and Harry exchanged looks, puzzled by the interaction between Hermione and Shirou, but decided not to comment. They had more important things on their minds. However, they both knew that, though they wouldn't admit it out loud, their friends' dedication to their studies was saving them from a school life full of endless books and work. Besides, seeing Shirou with the "famous scrapbook" in his room before bed was becoming a routine sight.

"Well, then let's meet in the library later to study, as usual," Hermione said firmly, clutching her bag and leading the way to their next class.

"Sure, Hermione. See you there," Shirou replied, following her. Behind them, both Harry and Ron walked awkwardly, but with a sense of adventure. The reason? They would finally have free time later to visit Hagrid's famous hut.

– Hagrid's Hut –

(Outskirts of the Castle, Western Grounds)

"Hey! Hagrid, we came to see you!"

Harry led the way towards Hagrid's hut, circling around the castle. Upon arriving, he knocked on the door. Immediately, there were barks and the sound of a dog running inside. It didn't take long for the door to open, revealing an imposing figure.

"Harry! What a joy to see you. Come in, come in!" Hagrid's happiness was evident. However, in his enthusiasm, he forgot to calm his restless black dog.

Shirou, at the back of the group, watched the interaction with curiosity. In front of him was a mythical being—well, to be exact, a half-giant—whose presence left a deep impression. He took the moment to admire both Hagrid and the surroundings.

Due to his peculiar situation, Shirou had spent time familiarizing himself with his environment. He found it interesting that the hut blended perfectly with the landscape, but understood that beyond it lay the entrance to the Forbidden Forest, a dangerous area filled with creatures that could easily kill him. He was so immersed in his thoughts that he barely noticed when Hermione took his hand to guide him inside, warning him to watch his step.

Upon entering, Shirou was impressed by the spacious room, though it was a bit disorganized. There was a large number of dried meats hanging by the window and a large fireplace at the back, where a cauldron of boiling water bubbled. A patched-up bed was in one of the far corners.

"Come on, sit down, no need to be shy," Hagrid said with a smile.

The giant moved to the fireplace and took out what he called a 'delicious rock cake,' placing it on the table. He took the initiative and sat down on a wooden chair. Surprisingly, the chair's frame only creaked slightly, but that didn't alleviate everyone's worries. Shirou, in particular, admired the craftsmanship and quality of the chair, which stubbornly supported a weight it obviously shouldn't.

"Thank you very much, Hagrid. This is Ron, and she's Hermione..." said Harry, taking a seat and pointing to his friends behind him. However, Shirou stepped forward unexpectedly before he could introduce him.

"Hello, Mr. Hagrid. My name is Shirou. I'm really delighted to meet you!"

"Oh, likewise," Hagrid replied, surprised by the friendliness of the small wizard. He smiled and extended his large hand, shaking it at once. The size difference made the handshake look a bit ridiculous.

By the fireplace, Fang, a large Neapolitan Mastiff, looked curiously at the strangers. He immediately got up, circled the room briefly, and then sat abruptly beside Ron.

It didn't take long for Ron to be startled by the dog's sudden action, lunging at Shirou to his right, drenching him with saliva. As soon as it happened, Ron hid Scabbers in his pocket, relieved that he wasn't the dog's target. Though he had never heard of dogs eating mice, he was too fearful after all that had happened to his pet in the last few days.

It was as if someone was deliberately trying to mess with his mouse...

Time passed, and during the conversation, both Harry and Ron vented to Hagrid about what had happened with Snape in that morning's class. Hermione merely frowned but decided not to refute the obvious.

Strangely, Shirou didn't join the discussion. He was pondering the true intentions of Professor Snape. He didn't know if there was some personal connection with Harry, besides his evident disdain for Gryffindor students. However, he respected the professor because his lessons were very interesting, and he had no trouble learning.

"Snape definitely knows how to teach everything about potions," he thought quietly. "I even suspect some recipes might have been improved by him."

This was a topic he would later investigate with Hermione; on the other hand, nothing justified what Snape had done to Harry and his friends. Regardless of the truth behind his behavior, it didn't excuse him from being a cruel and bitter person.

"What do you think, Shirou?" Harry asked, arms crossed and obviously frustrated, but in a tone moderated enough to pull him out of his thoughts.

"Oh, sorry," Shirou said, lowering his head and scratching it nervously, caught off guard, "I was thinking about what you said," he looked at his friends, noticing their tacit agreement about their professor, "But I'm clear that Snape can really be a good teacher, although his treatment of us is a big problem. I even feel that we'll have more unpleasant moments if we're not prepared for anything that happens during his classes."

"Shirou is right, guys," Hermione nodded, sighing a little tiredly. "We just need to study a bit more to show Snape that next time we'll be more than prepared for anything he throws at us."

"I still have my doubts about all this," said Ron, petting his mouse but trying to show courage by puffing his chest. "But that's something we'll deal with later. Not to mention, at least we have Hagrid on our side."

The half-giant smiled, embarrassed by how friendly he had become with them. "Well said, Ron. You can always count on me, kids," he got up from the table before offering them his culinary specialty, "And now, who wants more rock cake?"

The group of young wizards looked a bit nervous, but Shirou was unanimously chosen to be the guinea pig on this occasion.

"Is it true that Gringotts was robbed?" Shirou asked, after having tried the "rock cake" without too many expectations. His curiosity had been piqued by seeing a newspaper next to the teapot.

Harry and Ron, who were chatting about how to deal with Snape, stopped and leaned towards the newspaper. The news of a robbery at Gringotts on the night of July 31 caught their attention. Although there wasn't enough evidence about the culprit, the goblin bankers insisted that after a thorough investigation, nothing had been lost.

"It happened on July 31!" Harry exclaimed suddenly, as if he had just remembered something important. "Hagrid, that date is my birthday. And we were at Gringotts that day to withdraw money from the underground vault!"

"Really?" Hagrid replied evasively, avoiding eye contact with Harry. It was evident he was trying to change the subject.

Shirou, a bit confused upon hearing for the first time about the existence of a bank and the involvement of 'goblins' as its owners, noticed the half-giant's intentions.

"It's incredible to think that someone dared to rob Gringotts!" Ron commented, ignoring the intention to change the topic and bringing more speculation to the situation. "I always thought it was the safest place after Hogwarts."

"Yes, but it seems they didn't manage to take anything," Hermione pointed out, adjusting her scarf. "What I wonder is, what exactly were they looking for?"

Shirou, still intrigued by the new information, asked: "Hagrid, is it common for goblins to own banks here? And how come nothing was taken if there was a robbery?"

The man tried to appear unconcerned and replied: "You know, Shirou, goblins are very intelligent creatures, but not friendly. I won't deny that they're excellent with money and security... But regarding the robbery... well, sometimes things aren't what they seem." He tried to smile, but the worry on his face was evident.

Harry observed Hagrid suspiciously, but decided not to press further. Instead, he said: "Well, it's a relief that nothing was lost. But still, it seems very strange."

"Certainly, Harry," Shirou murmured politely. As he did, he soaked a hard biscuit in the tea to soften it a bit and barely ate half of it.

"Come on, guys, we still have some time to talk about other things. Like, for example… Do you really think I should leave it on the fire for a couple more hours, Shirou?" Hagrid quickly asked, seeking to change the subject to his impressions of the rock cake and warmly inviting everyone to eat more.

Conveniently, the group had followed Shirou's advice on how to eat only the lower edge of the cake, which minimally fragmented, ignoring the rest of the brick-like crust to avoid breaking their teeth. But seeing Hagrid's expectant face, it wasn't easy to find a believable excuse to decline.

Unfortunately for the rest of the group, the half-giant was enthusiastic enough to fill their pockets with more rock cakes, despite the expressions of displeasure they eventually couldn't hide.

"Thanks, Hagrid," Ron said, trying to sound grateful while forcing a smile. "But I think one is enough for me."

"Yes, Hagrid, I really appreciate your effort," added Hermione diplomatically, "but I have to take care of my teeth."

Harry nodded, looking at Shirou for support. "I'm sure they're delicious, but maybe we could save some for later."

Hagrid, unaware of the group's discomfort, smiled broadly. "As you wish, kids! There'll always be more rock cakes for you."

The group exchanged resigned looks, knowing that Hagrid's culinary skills would become a constant challenge in the future, but truly appreciating his good intentions.

– Gryffindor Common Room –

It didn't take long for the four of them to return to the castle together.

They had classes later and, of course, couldn't skip lunch. However, spending time in the library wasn't in their plans. Hermione insisted firmly, much to Harry and Ron's dismay. Eventually, both gave in after she convinced them that if they didn't review what they learned in Snape's class, they would regret it later.

The rest of the school day passed quickly, and as they crossed the common room's doors, the group split up on the stairs. Harry and Ron were the first to head to the dormitory, talking about how foolish they felt for falling into their friend's persuasion and Shirou's dedication to practicing his lessons a bit more in the common room.

"I'm exhausted!" said Ron, stretching and yawning. "I don't know how they have the energy to keep studying and practicing," he said, slowly opening the door before entering. "I just want to crawl into my bed."

"I wonder the same thing, Ron," replied Harry, removing his glasses and rubbing his eyes. "But their actions are... admirable, don't you think?" He jumped onto his bed. "Still, as far as I'm concerned, I think we've had enough for today!"

"You said it, mate," Ron was now on his bed, looking at Scabbers, who was sleeping soundly in his right hand. "But... do you think Hermione will have a bit of mercy on us tomorrow?"

"I doubt it," sighed Harry, resigned. "We only briefly reviewed simple healing potions, and it took us all afternoon!"

They exchanged resigned looks, devising plans to avoid studying the next day as they changed into their pajamas, preparing for bed.

"Maybe we could say we have to help Hagrid with something?" suggested Ron, a spark of hope in his voice.

"And what will we do if she asks for details?" Harry replied, smiling wearily.

Ron shrugged. "I don't know, but anything is better than another afternoon full of potion studies."

Meanwhile, Shirou and Hermione had chatted an hour ago, sitting by the fire in the common room before each decided to focus on their own tasks. Hermione was the first to finish, closing her book and feeling a bit nervous as she noticed Shirou staring at the fireplace, his wand motionless in his right hand.

"You know, this book on intermediate transfiguration spells has been very entertaining," said Hermione, trying to get her friend's attention.

Shirou, absorbed in his thoughts, barely reacted. "Hm? Oh, yes, of course. It's a good book."

At this point, Hermione frowned, realizing she had been ignored but decided to let it pass. "Now that I think about it, I think it's time to go to bed," she asked, seeking a reaction. "Don't you think?"

"I think you're right," he finally came to himself and nodded mechanically.

No one else was in the common room at that moment, but the quiet atmosphere created a bit of awkwardness between them.

"It's a bit late," Shirou stood up slowly, properly storing his wand as he closed his book. It was the second book Madame Pince had provided him over three weeks ago.

Hermione looked at him, somewhat confused, but understood that Shirou had been acting differently over the past two days. She decided to wait for him to feel ready to talk about what was bothering him.

"Enjoy your rest, Hermione," he hesitated a bit before adding, "I think I need to take a walk."

"Do you want me to join you?" she offered with genuine concern.

"No, thanks," Shirou shook his head, nervously scratching the back of it. "I need some time to think."

"Alright," she sighed in acceptance. "Just... don't stay out too late, Shirou."

"I won't," he replied, smiling one last time before leaving the room. "Good night."

"Good night," she said, playing with her hair as she watched him leave. Then, she walked to the right, slowly ascending the stairs to her dormitory, lost in her own thoughts.

– Gryffindor Common Room –

(Hallways of the 7th Floor)

As Shirou walked through the empty hallways, a sense of unease enveloped him.

Suddenly, a stern voice broke the silence, startling him. He hadn't expected to meet anyone, let alone such an imposing figure.

"What are you doing outside the common room at this hour, Mr. Smith?" asked Professor McGonagall in an authoritative tone.

Shirou stopped abruptly, feeling his heart race. "I'm sorry, Professor McGonagall," he murmured, lowering his head in respect and guilt. "I just needed to clear my head a bit..."

Professor McGonagall observed him closely for a moment. Her keen eyes noticed that the boy's golden eyes seemed clouded.

"I understand," she said, letting out a deep sigh before softening her expression. "Just make sure not to wander the hallways so late. You might encounter things less pleasant than a reprimand from a professor."

Shirou looked up and nodded. "I'll keep that in mind, Professor," he said nervously, giving a brief oriental bow. "Thank you."

McGonagall gave a brief smile as she looked at him and, as she continued her path, added, "Have a good night, Mr. Smith."

– Southern Hallways –

(Seventh Floor of the Castle)

Fortunately, he didn't receive a reprimand from Professor McGonagall.

He was grateful it was her, for if it had been any other professor, his little walk might have ended very differently. Especially if it had been the caretaker, Mr. Filch, or worse, Mrs. Norris, his cat. He still didn't understand why she was so vigilant over him every time they crossed paths, even attempting to scratch him at the slightest opportunity.

As he walked through the dark and silent hallways of Hogwarts, it was inevitable to feel a heavy guilt for deciding to clear his mind by taking such risks of being caught and even receiving a severe punishment for breaking the rules. But a part of him truly enjoyed the tranquility and the fresh air coming in through some of the higher windows.

It was moments like these when he found himself reflecting on the challenges he had faced over the past three days and how it had been a bit difficult to continue with his little hobby of magical experimentation.

The reason?

It all started on Tuesday morning earlier that week when he noticed a slightly strange smell from the southern area of the seventh floor of the castle. Risking taking the same route so far, he had been fascinated by trying to find an explanation, which is why he couldn't give up now, not when he felt he was close to finding answers!

"What on earth is that smell?" he muttered to himself, wrinkling his nose. It was the third time he had passed through that hallway, and he was sure he couldn't mistake the ridiculously 'exotic' portraits hanging. Especially because in front of him was the large tapestry of the famous "Barnabas the Barmy," whose story was about a wizard who tried to teach trolls to dance ballet.

"If Barnabas tried something so absurd, there's no reason I shouldn't do my fair share of craziness to solve this mystery," he told himself, trying to encourage himself.

As he stood in front of this tapestry, he again sensed the strange smell. Nothing out of the ordinary, and that was saying a lot, given that he was in a magical school. He was thinking about how to find an ideal place to practice his spells without creating disasters when the smell intensified.

"This is weird..." he muttered, approaching the tapestry.

Suddenly, from the right side of the tapestry, ancient vines and mechanical parts began to extend, creating the illusion of a very old door appearing mysteriously.

"No way!" he exclaimed, surprising even one of the portraits that had been dozing nearby as the mechanism-like gears began to sound when the locks appeared free.

Cautiously, he approached the door, feeling an irresistible urge to enter, pushing it slightly. It creaked open, revealing a room he had never seen before.

– Room of Requirement –

He entered, closing the door behind him.

"This is incredible!" he exclaimed, his eyes shining with excitement.

All around him, he couldn't believe what he was seeing. The mysterious room was a vast training area, decorated with a brilliant and transparent splendor. On either side, rows of mannequins stood ready for spell practice.

"This place is huge," he murmured in awe, walking among the shelves and tables, noticing how they were filled with potions, ancient books, and strange devices he had never seen before. "But... what is its purpose?"

He asked himself, confused, examining some of the tomes on the table, reading their covers briefly before continuing his exploration. He found all of this suspiciously curious. He certainly had his reasons for thinking so, given that he had been searching for over a week for a suitable place to experiment with his recent advances in understanding magic. That was one of the reasons he had been dedicating his limited nighttime hours to solving it, even though it was becoming increasingly difficult.

Though he didn't consider himself a great wizard by the standards of this new world, that didn't stop him. He was determined to bridge the gap through hard work and self-study; not to mention he was quite stubborn when he set his mind on something.

"Hermione would definitely love this place right now!"

He smiled, thinking of his friend. The reason was that she had taught him that no matter how much knowledge one had, if one didn't take the time to gain more practical experience, their limits would remain the same.

"Not to mention Ron and Harry will love this place the next time we come here together to hang out. But for now, I could start by taking a closer look at the practice mannequins," he said briefly before moving on.

His mind wandered back to his past experiences, where every time he performed a spell, something always felt off.

It was as if something was missing. He didn't know how to express it, but he glimpsed in dreams and moments of inspiration that there was a way to make the transition between magic and reality more efficient and powerful.

By mere accident, he started thinking about a slightly different, somewhat unorthodox approach, but one that could certainly be the key to a path never imagined. Clearly, he didn't see himself as a legendary figure like Merlin or any modern counterpart, but he was determined to advance in his own magical art.

That's why, upon entering, he was surprised to see that the room was perfectly adapted to his most pressing needs.

"This is a great opportunity!" he shouted as he positioned himself in the training area, preparing. "I can't waste it!" With a wave of his wand, he began practicing some of the spells he had recently learned.

He decided to start by evaluating a spell traditionally. He knew the first crucial step was knowledge. It wasn't just about memorizing words and gestures; understanding the essence of what he was trying to achieve was fundamental.

To test this, he walked to a rusted-looking door on the side of the room.

"Alohomora," he pronounced nervously but softly. This time, he not only recited the correct words accompanied by the familiar gesture associated with the spell but also tried to understand the essence of what he was trying to achieve. With that mindset, he began to visualize the lock yielding, the internal mechanisms turning smoothly under the influence of his magic. The door opened with a soft click.

"It works!" he exclaimed, his voice full of excitement. "Finally!"

Now, as a second step, concentration and focus were equally vital.

"Really... this whole room is covered in this dark atmosphere," Shirou admired the lack of lighting in the strange room, taking a deep breath before raising his wand into the air.

"Lumos," he said firmly after a few seconds.

This time, he not only focused his mind on the light during each movement and every word spoken, keeping his mind clear and his intention firm but also tried to feel the energy flowing from within him. The tip of his wand lit up with a bright, warm light, like a star in the night sky.

Strangely, Shirou tried to delve deeper, feeling an odd resonance from deep within. He entered a sort of trance that clouded his senses, plunging him into deep darkness.

At the same time, the strange book Madame Pince had given him began to glow mysteriously inside his backpack, transforming into an ancient and exquisite ruby pendant. Its enigmatic light began to illuminate the room with a deep, intense red, concentrating especially on the figure of the young wizard, who appeared to be asleep.

"Judging the concept of creation."

Before he could react, Shirou heard mysterious words resonating in his mind.

"I feel a tingling sensation all over my body," he murmured, feeling himself slowly becoming numb and short of breath. "It's a bit hard to maintain," he grunted, clenching his teeth.

Fine, strange iridescent lines covered his body, with a familiar warmth illuminating his surroundings. Suddenly, he was facing a worn, ancient-looking book, which he had obviously seen before when he interacted with the Sorting Hat on the same day he had awoken in this new world.

"Why am I seeing this?" he asked, confused, as the pages forcefully opened, and a feeling of longing and happiness washed over him, not understanding the meaning behind the myriad of unknown images that provoked intense and contradictory emotions.

The first thing he noticed was that he was accompanied by a very beautiful girl with twin ponytails.

He felt that, somehow, it was his fault she was scolding him. The strange part was that she was now crying before grabbing him by the collar of his shirt and ranting fiercely at him.

"Listen! Just wishing for others' happiness is wrong," the girl shouted, her tears falling. "If you keep doing this, you'll be no different from a machine!"

An awkward silence followed, but she didn't hold back.

"You can help people all you want, but do it for yourself!" She came closer. "You have to live for yourself... or you won't know what happiness is!"

Before Shirou could respond, the image shifted to a tall man dressed entirely in red, sitting atop a monolithic gear.

"What?" the man said, turning around to look at him with a smile that, for some reason, made Shirou feel uneasy. "There's nothing more to add, kid."

The man jumped down from the structure to stand face to face with him, but Shirou couldn't say anything, completely frozen and unsure how to react.

"It's obvious, but my reason for fighting is simply for myself," the man sighed tiredly. "You've been granted a wish and the opportunity to choose your own fate this time. The choice is yours alone. You can go on with your ideal or continue under the shadow of guilt..."

"Wait!" Shirou shouted, finally taking control of his body. "What do you mean? Who the hell are you?"

"You'll know in due time. At least, that's how it is for you, right, Emiya Shirou?" The man smiled ironically before continuing. "Or should I call you Shirou Smith?" That was the last thing he said before disappearing amidst gusts of sand, the strong smell of sulfur filling the air.

They were just fragments, but the dreamlike sensation was stronger, erasing the traces of what once was. With powerful hammer blows echoing within the forge, resonating in an echo within the room.

Unable to help it, Shirou let out a sigh of relief as the sensation of magic within him stabilized.

His heartbeat synchronized with his breathing. Feeling revitalized, he began analyzing the intention behind the spells he practiced daily. He realized that his success didn't rely solely on knowledge and concentration but also on the purity of his intention.

This was demonstrated by his repeated failures when attempting to heal minor wounds with the Episkey spell. From now on, he would have to feel a deep desire to heal, visualizing the wound closing and the skin regenerating.

"Formulating hypotheses about the basic structure,"

He heard in whispers as he delved back into his thoughts. In the midst of his trance, the images became increasingly chaotic.

Suddenly, he was facing a strange orb of light radiating intense blue lights, feeling tempted to look at it as it spoke in an apparently unknown language.

Immediately, the light was eclipsed by the worn book he had seen before.

This time, an imposing silver sword adorned with rubies in the hilt tore through the scene with a single motion before disappearing into the book, leaving ripples over a large lake, or perhaps it was a sea.

It didn't matter, because he wouldn't forget the wild and strong wind and the lightning now guarding what could be called "a sword" with ancient inscriptions surrounded by what seemed to be jade magatamas. His gaze was captivated by its beauty and perfection, completely different from any other he had seen.

Once again, everything around him changed. He found himself in a sort of oriental temple, feeling a sense of homeliness and peace. In the background, the image of the twin-ponytailed girl smiled at him with her head held high, but with tears in her blue eyes. Beside her, a girl with golden hair looked at him with sorrow, and another with lilac hair wept for him.

"Who are they?" Shirou murmured, feeling overwhelmed by the emotions these images evoked.

It was complicated to explain, but the sense of time passing became ambiguous.

However, this didn't trouble him too much. Shirou continued under a strange influence, in the middle of a trance that kept him experiencing something he could only call magic. His heart and mind screamed at him to pay more attention to the details before it was too late.

At this point, he found himself reflecting on his wand, an extension of his own body according to the philosophy of this new world. He remembered the first time he used it, made of cherry wood but with an unknown core.

It was quite a spectacle when, during his first Transfiguration class, his attempts were erratic and unreliable. Until now, he finally understood that he needed to establish a deeper connection with his wand, feeling it as a part of himself to perform his spells with more naturalness and precision.

Suddenly, a strong blow knocked him down. His vision faded, deprived of any sense of self, as he found himself surrounded by deep darkness and a strong smell of blood.

"The sins committed by your clan in stealing the sword cannot be hidden. It didn't help that they mixed with the Muramasa. They had to pay the price for their greed, which is why their withered and decaying family also suffered the same fate over 400 years ago. They have been abandoned by the heavens, forced to bear a deep curse in their blood that can never be forgiven for the rest of eternity."

He tasted blood in his mouth and began to hyperventilate. His concentration broke just as he was reaching the ethical and responsibility aspects of his practice, which he always took seriously.

Shirou shook his head, looking around, trying to clear his confusion.

"I'm not sure... of what I've seen, of those people I don't recognize but feel like I've seen before," he murmured, clenching his hands. He felt that there was something bigger behind all of this, but everything in the room remained the same.

He was completely alone, but the headache and the heaviness in his body prevented him from continuing to practice.

"Maybe..." Shirou smiled weakly before crossing his arms, feeling a tightness in his chest that made him tremble with palpable fear. "I don't know... for now, I have so many things on my mind that I don't know where to start, everything has become so strange."

Although his clothes were disheveled and covered in sweat, and his arms were completely covered in goosebumps, he couldn't ignore the weight and doubt in his heart about whether he should later search for any clues about what he had seen. Especially the last vision, of a large reptilian shadow and a smell of venom and blood, which had deeply disturbed him.

He didn't know what had happened, but he was sure that magic, in its purest essence, was a powerful tool that could be used for good or evil.

"I think that's enough for now," Shirou sighed before furrowing his brow thoughtfully.

This experience made him reflect on the reckless consequences of experimenting irresponsibly with magic. He still vividly remembered when he lost control in the middle of this spell.

He quickly grabbed his backpack, storing the materials he had used. Tomorrow morning, he would have his first flying lesson with Professor Hooch. Not to mention he now felt completely dizzy from the disruption in his magical power and the exhaustion from everything that had happened tonight.

He just hoped there wouldn't be any more surprises. He had enough to think about with all the strange visions and the numbness running pulsatingly through his body.

I'm not entirely sure about the abrupt ending of this chapter. I don't feel it completely met my expectations, but honestly, I did my best. I know I mentioned that the chapter was fully ready, and that's true, but there were some details I couldn't polish as I had planned.

However, these errors are part of the process, and I will keep striving to continue with this story. "Secret Practice in the Room of Requirement" has been an interesting chapter to write, and I hope you enjoyed it. What do you think about the secrets behind Shirou?

Regarding the next update, I can tell you it will be: "A Sword Lost Among Cobwebs," followed by "Echo of the Seasons." In these chapters, we will finally start the plot I've been eagerly anticipating. I would appreciate it if you could give them a chance when they become available.

I'm delighted to see that we have received a total of 50 reviews, along with the support of 224 favorites and 327 followers. Your support means a lot to me.

Before saying goodbye, I would like to address some comments received about the previous chapter:

Fanfiction:

Guest: Snape's words to Shirou are very important, and we will explore more about that mystery in future chapters. As for Shirou's heroine or partner, I haven't decided yet, but I will consider it.

NinjaMasterX: There will be more focus on other characters later on. For now, we are developing the foundations of Shirou and his understanding of the magical world at a slow pace. I hope this injection of drama is to your liking.

OtakuQueen: I hope you found this interpretation of Shirou interesting and enjoyed this brief glimpse into his origins.

JUAN CAAMAL: As I mentioned before, the plot will develop slowly but steadily. Look forward to the next two chapters; I think you will enjoy them.

Guest: I hope you have enjoyed the story so far. Thank you very much for your support!

Vinayakdj1: You hit the nail on the head. I'm very excited to write about that part of the story, as it is my specialty. I hope to capture Shirou's essence accurately.

Dash6217: I appreciate your comment about Snape. I put a lot of effort into that part. Shirou will learn magic from the magical world while finding his own path and adapting to this new world.

467ajonathanhernandez: Thank you very much for your comment, my friend. I hope you enjoyed the chapter.

Darth Kyuubi Kurama: As always, thank you very much for your continuous support. I really appreciate your words.

Wattpad:

No comments received.

AO3:

BlackBook7777: I hope you enjoyed Shirou's interactions in this chapter. Thank you very much for your support.

I wish to express my sincere gratitude for your words and reviews. Your support has been fundamental for me, and I am truly grateful.

For now, I say goodbye as KaleidoMirror, but I look forward to our next meeting in the upcoming update. See you soon!