The Paternal Paradox 4 - (Fateverse, MC becomes 'the' Dad)
Somewhere, somehow, two individuals with hardly any connection are meeting.
Not by the will of one, but by the irritation of the other. After all, the colorful domain which saw these entities met was quick to turn hideous if not nauseous in the long run. And this made the already expected tense meeting even more tense.
"You shouldn't be tearing into things that aren't yours to play with, child," The elderly prude remarked, blue eyes mirroring a deep sense of nervousness that was matched by an unending amount of headaches if he didn't do his job here. "You should do what you promised your brother and yourself to do - die with dignity."
"Bite me, Wizard Marshal," was the sharp rebuttal of the much younger but not outright childish creature that stood before such a powerful entity within the Magus Association.
After all, the Kaleidoscope opened to endless possibilities, but what happens when the perfect example of Einzbern Wishcraft bullshit somehow ends up fixing herself into the system? Troubles. Lots of them. And Zelretch's finest tool turned into the toy of a woman in brat's body.
The Heaven's Feel dress was familiar to his weary gaze, but for a child to wear it was a reminder that innocence dies early- especially in those that are born in bodies meant to be tools and thus unworthy of growing up.
"I don't want to, but you are playing with some things that can easily rip this reality apart if you don't-"
"Lies," The child known as 'ILLYA' rebuked dryly. "I have seen countless realities and there have been far grosser events that led to the collapse of all. This one is by far one of the tamest and I don't intend to rip it entirely as you suggest."
Ah yes, omnipotence over the 'multiverse'. Of course that would come to bite him in the ass.
"Can I at least know why you are giving me grief?"
"You remind me of my grandfather. I hate him, and I am glad one of my first move was to crush him," ILLYA replied flatly, and Zelretch flinched as he remembered the news of the Einzbern Castle suddenly 'collapsing' on itself. That explained that odd event but- "Also, you broke the deal we had."
Ah yes, the crux of the issue: a deal. One with a handshake at that. A super-duper serious deal that, truth be told, Zelretch could have just said 'nah' to, but the old man felt entitled to claim. He had been inactive enough, yes, but he should have been able to prevent a Sixth Holy Grail War.
Of course, he underestimated the willingness of the American tossers in getting their hands into the bloody business of murderous heroes.
"And I said I am sorry-"
"Not enough. Never enough," ILLYA's response was abrupt and bitter, and Zelretch felt Justeaze's sharp tongue coldly manifest within the child's own speech pattern. The elegant Einzbern talk was one hardly anyone was familiar with, but Zelretch had been nagged long enough to know how to hate it. "Sorry is a petty words in today's world. Which is why I intend to shape it - one hero at a time."
And here was the main issue.
"How does pulling some low-rank Magus into this plan of yours intend to introduce changes? All you did was allow him the means to summon composite heroes with 'childish' attributes."
"I will allow you just a single hint: I wish to shape the world... by returning the heroes of old to it. Not through an inhuman system that can only create flawed and barely human mindsets - I will reintroduce them to the world, and have someone to lead them... a parental figure."
"Why some nobody?"
"Why not?" ILLYA pushed back, now sounding amused as she perceived the growing annoyance within the Wizard Marshal's mind. "Oh, perhaps you are wondering... why not someone that I know through my previous mortal life? The truth is, Zelretch, that I love them... but I wouldn't trust them even with the kids from strangers."
"...What?"
"Emiya Shirou. He made for a half-baked living being due to my father's flawed mindset. He lost much of what made him whole, and now he is barely making enough of each day to feel happy. Toshaka Rin. What to say of her that doesn't sound petty? Gems, money, and a childhood that shows deep-rooted insecurities she manifests through her never-ending pursuit of new things. Then... Matou Sakura. Or Tohsaka Sakura. She is the most decent of the trio, and I asked her. She refused on the grounds that 'she will not take to any magical experiments, even if the goal is as purely good as mine it'."
How convenient.
"Alas, I saw others in the Association- no, the world. This world is very limited in likeable people. I could have drawn from another world, but those are either in a worse shape or in a better condition - enough to make any intervention extremely unwarranted."
...
"It was a random choice."
"In most part, yes. I looked at endless opportunities, studied numerous chances, and ultimately decided that he will make things right. Also... I feel like he has the qualities I seek out of a long-standing partner. I will leave you to ponder on these words rather than indulge more of my own 'arrogance'."
"There's more to it," Zelretch growled. "Illya, this is- whatever you are planning to do is-"
"Wrong?" She shifted out of sight, soon appearing right in front of Zelretch. "Misunderstood? Confused? Bad? Tell me, Zelretch... is 'this' good at all? A world of Mirrors you nurture from other's eyes. You know how things could go better, you could be the leading figure, but you fail to do so. And let's not get started with the 'Pruning'. We all know that the parameters behind such a 'forced shutdown' are far more kind towards some dimensions compared to others."
"You know an awful lot for having been stuck there for months," The old man pointed out, sounding surprised but also jealous due to how many decades he wasted trying to understand the Kaleidoscope and the deeper meaning of reality itself. "I suppose that's what happens when you have nothing else to do."
"Indeed. I had utter power and endless thoughts. I would not call myself 'God', after all I have a personality that is defined by a single name - ILLYA."
...
"I suppose this is the end of our conversation."
"It doesn't have to. You can stay, but, I suppose, I would be too busy to mind you. And trust me when I say you will not know what I am up to."
"The man-"
"Is protected. Stop sending idiots after him as he will have a bigger role in shaping humanity in the long run. Sit and watch, as it is time for a honest generations of parents to take over the unruly children of Alaya and Gaia."
Zelretch grumbled something, but he proceeded to leave as he found himself back in his office, pouring himself a cup of burning coffee and-
CRASH!
Ignore the chaotic nature of both his apprentices... while also praying that the brat isn't going to cause the end of the world with her many efforts towards a radical change.
Good or bad, change was change. And Pruning wasn't as simple as ILLYA may be thinking it to be.
AN
A little 'interlude' as the Wizard Marshal (who's actually a super-serious but old as fuck non-vampiric magus) finds out what happens if he shake hands with little devils. After all, ILLYA's plan is bigger than it appears, and the 'Lil Servant' situation is just the first of many steps.
