Hell Yeah! (Fist Pump!)

Guess who winged, didn't fail, AND succeeded in their Chemistry test!

THIS GAL! Yessir, I passed with flying colours! AND I WINGED IT! UMU

WOOHOOO!

SO, as celebration, I have decided to… reward myself with…

SLEEP! -w-

Oh, sweet, beautiful, uninterrupted sleep.

I have missed you so~.

Ah~ It feels so good~

…

Wait… That sounds wrong…

O_o

…

But yeah, anyways, welcome back to another chapter, nerds.

I'm honestly surprised at all the positive reviews I got. I didn't expect this meh fanfic to do as well as it is.

So thank y'all for everything! TwT

It really means a lot to me~ :)

SO! Without further ado, let's get the next part of this story underway, shall we?

…

...

When the fires had finally gone out, I had been rushed to the hospital.

I was unconscious at the time, but when I came to, I saw the man -who I learned was named Kiritsugu- had been sitting in a chair, patiently waiting for me to wake up. When he saw I had awakened, he asked me what I would do, now that I had no home, no money, and was most definitely orphaned. I must've looked so pitiful, just sitting there.

When the hospital finally let me out, he took me into his home.

He fed me, clothed me, and gave me a roof to sleep under.

He treated me like the son he never had, so I began to see him as a Father-figure.

However, one night, when I was heading off to go to sleep, I noticed the front doors were cracked open.

When I went to check, I saw Kiritsugu sitting on the front porch, silently staring off into the night sky.

I quietly took a seat beside him.

For a few moments, they just sat in silence, staring at the sky.

Then he began to speak.

"Shirou," he began, his voice low and heavy quickly drawing my attention. "I've done many things in my life that I regret—things I can never forgive myself for. I've been a monster, all in pursuit of my dream. I chased it across the world, but in the end, it meant nothing."

His words hung in the air, and I pondered them, feeling a knot of guilt tighten in my chest. "And… What was your dream?" I asked, the question slipping out before I could hold it back. I felt intrusive but was desperate to understand.

He let out a bitter laugh, a hollow sound that echoed the emptiness within him. "I wanted to be a Hero of Justice. Someone who saved everyone." His voice trembled as he continued, "But I learned the hard way that such a title is a lie. Time and again, I faced impossible choices. Should I uphold the ideals I pursued so fiercely, or live for those I would die for?"

Another hollow laugh escaped him, but it carried no joy. "Again and again, I chose my ideals over my family."

I inhaled sharply, the weight of his confession settling heavily on my heart. I was ready to comfort him, to tell him he wasn't wrong, but then I noticed the flicker of a smile on his lips—a fleeting glimpse of something hopeful.

I was ready to comfort him, ready to tell him that he wasn't wrong for doing what he did, but then stopped.

I saw Kiritsugu smiling slightly, seemingly for no reason.

And then he told me,

"But then, I was saved."

I stared at him, waiting for him to continue.

"My friend. She saved me from my hell. She took me into her arms, and for the first time in my life, I had something I truly wanted to protect. I wouldn't be the man I am today if it wasn't for her."

His eyes closed briefly, and I could see the pain etched in his features.

"But then, I had to make a decision."

I felt a chill run through me, the air growing thick with anticipation. "I could either save her... or I could save the lives of countless others."

My breath caught in my throat, the realization crashing over me like a wave. I understood now why he was so tormented. A chill gripped me—not from fear of him, but from the terrifying knowledge that I might someday face the same choice.

Kiritsugu let a small smile onto his face, but both of us could tell it was fake.

"I killed her to save countless others."

He continued on.

"I ended up hating this dream. I grew to despise it, yet I continued to fight for it, believing the lives of the many outweighed the few." Tears pooled in his eyes, spilling over like fragile glass.

"And now, here I am. And after all this time, I miss her. And I miss the daughter I left behind. My sweet, sweet Illya."

Now I wanted him to stop, to stop telling me that his dream was terrible.

Why would trying to save everyone not be a good dream?

"I can't have them back, Shirou." He began, shocking me out of my thoughts.

"It's too late for that. But you can learn from my mistakes."

Now, the tears he worked so hard to keep in came spilling out, as he began to beg his son to listen to him.

"The only wish I have left is for the happiness of the few people I have left."

They shared another moment of silence, before I spoke up. "I understand, Father." I said, though my voice was shaky, and I sounded unsure of myself.

"I'll… try… to live a good life for myself."

Kiritsugu could tell I was unsure of myself, that the fire had mentally broken me past repair.

But at least I would try to live.

If not for myself, then to honour Kiritsugu's wish.

"I'm... happy to hear that. Thank you, son."

…

…

The next day, he died, leaving me with his house and inheritance.

I dug a grave for him in the forest, where no one but me would be able to find him.

I missed him, but knew nothing I did would bring him back, so I moved on.

I fought to live for myself, but I could never shake the pull of helping others. Perhaps it was survivor's guilt, but I found purpose in saving those around me.

After all, I wanted to be a true Hero of Justice, someone who could save everyone—for Kiritsugu, the man who had believed in me.

…

Chapter 3: Through Nature's Veil - Journey Through The Familiar Forest

...

Emiya's steps were steady as he ventured deeper into the Familiar Forest, his senses attuned to the shifting energies around him. Each breath he took was measured, every movement deliberate as he navigated through the strange, uncharted territory. The dense canopy above allowed only faint beams of light to pierce through, painting the forest floor with patches of golden hue.

The forest's deep, ever-present silence tugged at Emiya's thoughts as he walked. Each step felt heavier than the last, not because of the terrain, but from the slow exhaustion creeping into his bones. Yet, that weariness was something he could handle. It was the unease gnawing at the back of his mind that gave him pause.

'This place… It's like it's alive.'

The Familiar Forest was unlike anything he had ever known. Every shadow, every flicker of movement carried weight, as though the forest watched him, judged him. He couldn't shake the feeling that his presence was something unwelcome, or at the very least, unnatural to this world. Yet, what disturbed him more was how his circuits, while slowly healing, struggled to interact with the ambient energy here.

He walked in silence, his mind sharp, focused on the task at hand: mastering the teleportation spell. The teleportation spell had proved to be more of a challenge than it should've been. Even a basic spell like this, which, in this world, seemed to be performed with ease, fought him every step of the way. A task that should have been simple—just a circle and an incantation—but with his Spirit Origin and the nature of his element as "Sword," every attempt felt more like a battle. He was no stranger to overcoming obstacles, but this one was proving particularly stubborn.

'Of course. The element of 'Sword' isn't suited for magic, or just magecraft in general. Why I thought it would be different with another world's magic system…' he pondered, his expression unchanged, but his mind running through all the possibilities. 'It makes sense… but that doesn't mean I have to accept it.'

He stopped for a moment, taking a deep breath as he looked at his hand. The circuit flow inside him had begun to steady, even if it was painfully slow. Reinforcement had returned to him, even if only at the most basic of levels, and his familiar Structural Grasp felt more grounded. There was progress, and progress was enough.

'I can't let this world get to me. Even if I don't belong here… I'll adapt.'

As he continued through the forest, the air began to shift, growing warmer and heavier with latent magic. The ground beneath his feet felt alive, and the faint hum of energy resonated through the trees. Emiya took in the sights of the Familiar Forest—a place teeming with life in ways that were unfamiliar but captivating.

He pressed on, the forest slowly shifting from daylight to dusk. The natural world was a stark contrast to the cities he was more familiar with, but there was something about the untouched beauty of this place that stilled his thoughts. The shadows of the great trees stretched long over the landscape, and small creatures darted between the trees, some with scales that shimmered in the light, others with fur as soft as the wind.

He spotted baby dragons playing in the underbrush, their laughter echoing softly as they tumbled over each other, wings flapping clumsily. Emiya paused to watch them for a moment, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. There was something peaceful about this place, a stark contrast to the conflicts he had fought through in the past.

'She would have liked this place… Even if it was only for the Phantasmals.'

It was peaceful in its own way, even if the tension lingered just below the surface.

He could feel the magic swirling around him, and it wasn't just from the creatures—it was in the land itself. Emiya pressed on, his steps careful as he weaved through the thick undergrowth, spotting more of the unique familiars that called the forest home. He saw a unicorn-like creature sipping from a stream and a small fire spirit hovering above a patch of enchanted flora.

Eventually, he reached the banks of a crystal-clear river. Kneeling, he cupped his hands and drank, the cool water refreshing against his parched throat. As he stood, he noticed a shimmering figure beneath the surface. At first glance, it appeared like a reflection or a trick of the light, but as the form moved gracefully beneath the water, it became clear that this was no illusion.

It was a nereid, a spirit of the water, her translucent form blending with the current as she danced beneath the surface. Her eyes met his for a brief moment before she vanished into the depths, leaving only ripples in her wake. Further downstream, other elemental spirits—nymphs—frolicked in the water, their laughter soft and melodic. Emiya watched them for a moment, appreciating how magic and nature intertwined, and seemed to thrive in this place.

But there was no time to dwell on it. He turned his attention back to the teleportation spell, determined to make it work. Standing on the riverbank, he etched the circle into the earth once more, his hands moving with precision. The stick was held firm in his grip, and the symbols he drew were ones he had committed to memory earlier.

He channelled his prana into the circle, feeling the spell take shape. But again, as the energy built, something resisted. It was as though the spell itself was at odds with his nature, his spirit origin clashing with the demands of the incantation. The circle wavered before flickering out, leaving only the faint trace of chalk behind.

Emiya frowned, but kept himself composed, deep in thought. Why did this particular magic seem so elusive? His grasp on magecraft had never been perfect, and he wasn't built for the type of high-level spellwork required by such rituals, yet this spell should've been simple enough…

His mind drifted back to the teleportation spell, how he had failed to actualize the magic circle correctly. His frustration was buried deep, hidden behind the same calm façade he had always carried. 'It's a simple spell. A basic one. And I can't even make it work.'

'No… it's not that I can't.' His grey eyes flickered in thought. 'It's that I haven't yet.'

He thought back to his experience with runecraft. It wasn't that he had a natural gift for it—it was simply that runes coincided with a few of the swords within his Reality Marble. He had learned runecraft not through any inherent talent, but because the runes were already part of the weapons he projected. The blades, with their ancient engravings, carried the knowledge of such symbols, and he had adapted that knowledge for himself.

"Runecraft made sense because it was tied to the weapons, and the concept of the runes themselves was easy enough to understand," he mused. But this teleportation spell? This was different. It required a different kind of magic—a kind that resisted him at every turn. Frustration brewed beneath the surface, but he kept it in check, refusing to let it take root. There was no point in dwelling on the struggle. He would get this spell to work, no matter how long it took.

The sun began to set, and the glow of the moon slowly made itself known in the sky as night fell Emiya's body, though healing, still ached from the exertion, and he decided it was time to take a break. He found a small clearing where he could rest for a while, his mind still turning over the problem of the spell as he sat down beneath the wide trunk of a tree.

He gathered a few sticks nearby, put them into a pile, and sat on a nearby log. Wordlessly, he put his finger up, and, drawing upon his slowly recovering circuits, drew the rune of 'kaunuz,' the rune of flame with prana, the blue rune appearing in the air in front of the sticks. It wasn't a particularly difficult symbol, but it carried a certain weight to it. As he poured some prana into it, a small campfire sparked to life, the orange flames flickering and casting warm light around him.

He watched the fire dance, the glow of the flames reflecting in his dull, grey eyes. There was something calming about the way the flames moved, a quiet rhythm to their flicker that mirrored his own thoughts. The air grew cooler as night fell, and the soft crackle of the fire provided a comforting backdrop to the quiet of the forest.

The fire's warmth was soothing, though he knew it wouldn't last. But for now, in this moment, it was enough. The crackling of the fire blended with the soft rustling of leaves, the forest finally granting him a brief reprieve from its ever-watchful gaze.

Emiya allowed himself a rare moment of stillness, his mind quieting as he stared into the flickering flames. There was something oddly peaceful about the night—the calm air, the distant calls of creatures settling into their nocturnal routines. It reminded him of the quiet moments before battle, where reflection was the only thing that made sense.

'How long has it been since I've had this?' He thought nostalgically, exhaling softly. 'A moment where nothing is expected of me. No blades to summon. No enemies to defeat. No world to save. Just… Peace.'

Moving his head back, he stared into the night sky, the stars reflecting off his misty, grey eyes. The wind flew by, lightly ruffling his hair, and a soft, almost imperceptible smile formed on his face as he just sat there, enjoying his newfound freedom.

…

But that peace was short-lived.

His eyes drifted across the clearing, scanning the darkening forest. The familiar sounds of crickets and rustling leaves filled the air, and the faint glow of spirits dancing in the distance added a sense of tranquillity to the scene.

Then, something caught his attention. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a shadowy cave entrance, half-hidden by the creeping vines and overgrown brush. His gaze lingered on the dark opening, and as his eyes adjusted to the dim light, he saw them—two slitted, draconic dark blue eyes staring back at him from within the cave's depths.

His body tensed, eyes narrowing as they adjusted to the growing darkness. There, in the depths of the cave, something stirred. And then, he saw them—slitted, draconic eyes, dark blue and unblinking, watching him from the shadows. Those eyes held no malice, but there was something ancient, something powerful within them. Emiya sharpened his gaze, his body slowly tensing, his body instinctively flaring its mana circuits. Ready at any moment, he locked eyes with the creature, a silent understanding passing between them. He remained still, his instincts coiled and ready, waiting for whatever came next.

'Whatever's in there… it's waiting,' he thought, his hands hovering near the ground, ready to trace a weapon if necessary.

The fire crackled beside him, its warmth doing little to ease the tension that had settled in the air. The eyes remained fixed on him, unblinking, as though they were testing him, measuring his resolve.

The flames continued to flicker, long shadows creeping along the ground, but Emiya didn't move. He simply watched, his mind sharp and composed, preparing for what lay ahead.

...

…

"Hahaha! Poor Shirou~ He doesn't know what that dragon's gonna do to him~"

…

Why are you in my room, you shitty wizard?!

Who let you in he-

…

ZELRETCH!

Get this SHITTY INCUBUS out of my DAMN ROOM!

(Hears said incubus chuckle, and then said troll chuckle in the next room over)

Oh, that's it!

(Pulls big ass warhammer out of nowhere)

*SLAM!* *BANG!* *CRASH!*

…

Sorry for the inconvenience, folks!

Just ignore what happened above. :)

Some FUCKING IDIOTS decided that they could just crash at my place without permission… And drink all my DAMN COFFEE!

(Officially, it's Zelretch and the shitty wizard Merlin)

(Unofficially, it's those two idiots I call friends… T-T… They raided my coffee cabinet and took ALL OF IT… but they left three packets, as well as a fat stack of 20's, around 9 of them… So I GUESS I forgive them… What do you think, chat? Should I forgive them?)

…

Now I'm gonna have withdrawals for next month... T-T

…

Or until I decide to actually go out and interact with human beings… -w-

…

WHICH I WON'T, because I HATE being social with people.

Yes, even those two idiots. Honestly, everytime I have nothing to do, and I can finally just lay down on my bed, stare at my ceiling in silence, and do absolutely nothing, they barge in because they know my ENTIRE schedule, drag me outside, and bring me to bars and parties.

In. My. Pyjamas. (My pyjamas consist of a hoodie and shorts, but still, it's the principle of the matter!) ToT

…

*Sigh*

Welp, whatever. What's done is done, I guess.

If you guys liked the story, leave a comment or a review below.

And… um… yeah. o.o

That's it.

Nothing else.

*Awkward* -_-

…

Wellifthatsallwe'regoodsogottagonowbye-

- Screen shuts off, so you can leave now, nerds -