Shirou breathed out as he turned the treadmill down and stepped off of it. It had become quite a habit of his to go the Clock Tower's gym and train after a day of classes. He had gotten a lot more used to the Clock Tower and it's odd way of guardian their magical capabilities from the regular world.
"Oh Shero!" a voice called. He turned his head to see Luvia walk up to him, dressed in her blue bodysuit she used for gym class. She walked up to him with a bright smile.
"Oh hey Luvia. You here too?"
"Of course I am. A mage needs to remain both in good physical and mental shape" Luvia said as she posed a little, showing off her athletic build to Shirou. But as per usual the young man was oblivious to what she was truly attempting to do.
"My oh my what is this Luvia? Trying to impress a boy" a voice suddenly rang.
Luvia's expression went from confident to flustered and her face became red as she turned her head. At that moment he saw a woman walking their way. And the moment he laid eyes on her he just knew she was someone special.
The woman walking towards them was at least a head taller than him. She looked to be in her mid-forties with curly blonde hair and wearing black framed glasses. She was dressed in a black colored bodysuit and it made her athletic build very clear. This woman was athletically fit and muscled and clearly took good care of herself. Shirou had never seen anyone like her, or a woman of her age in such good physical condition as her.
"Auntie Katalina…what are you doing here?" Luvia mumbled out.
The woman flashed a bright smile "oh my local gym is undergoing construction so I thought I use the Clock Tower facilities for my workouts for the time being" she walked over to Luvia with open arms and embraced the young woman tightly.
"But do tell my dearest niece. Who is this boy you're with? Is he the one you fancy?" the woman asked with a curious raised eyebrow, causing Luvia to blush even brighter and seemingly lose her ability to speak.
"Oh no no he is…well uhm…just a friend and classmate that's all!" Luvia told her with her hands raised in protest. She then turned around to Shirou.
"Shirou may I introduce you to my aunt" she said as Luvia's aunt extended a hand towards Shirou.
"Katalina Ravonna Edelfelt, pleasure to meet you" she said.
Shirou shook her hand with a smile "nice to meet you ma'am. I am Shirou Emiya."
Katalina raised an eyebrow upon hearing his name "Shirou Emiya. I have heard your name before. Yes I think it was El-Melloi who mentioned you to be brimming with potential. My, my Luvia you certainly know what friends to pick."
Luvia once more seemed flustered by such comment as her face turned a bright red. Her aunt was definitely an interesting woman Shirou determined. Not just by the fact that she seemed more buff then most of the men he had met.
"Say dear boy. My spotter for the bench press is out sick today, mind lending me a hand?" Katalina asked him, smiling from ear to ear.
Ever the helpful guy Shirou's answer was "of course I'd be happy too."
Katalina clasped her hands together in appreciation "ah such a polite young man. The unruly lads nowadays could learn something from you dear boy. Now come follow me?"
Both Shirou and Luvia followed the older woman towards the nearest bench press. Shirou watched as Katalina grabbed a bunch of weights and placed them on either side of the barbell. They weight a somewhat significant amount, nothing too crazy but Shirou admitted this was the first time he saw a woman lift that much.
As the woman laid down on the bench, Shirou took place behind her as Luvia stood silently besides it. Katalina grabbed hold of the barbell and began lifting it up with minimal effort. It took Shirou for quite a surprise. From what he could gather she didn't use any magic to enhance her strength. Instead it was just pure physical strength.
After about fifteen reps she put the barbell on the resting and leaned up, wiping the sweat from her face with her towel and then turned to face Shirou.
"Tell me about yourself Shirou? How did a young man like you come so far towards this prestigious establishment?"
"Well there is not much to tell. I came here to the Clock Tower two years ago with my girlfriend to study magic properly."
"Girlfriend you say?" Katalina murmured before turning to face Luvia "Luvia my dear you aren't trying to make moves on a taken man now are you?"
She said in a playful tone, but nonetheless it made Luvia turn brighter than a tomato.
"No of course not aunt Katalina!" Luvia protested "you know I'm not the kind of girl to do so. Besides his girlfriend is well…Rin Tohsaka…"
Katalina's eyebrow raised up "Tohsaka…don't you mean your distant relatives?"
"Wait…" Shirou interjected "you mean to tell me that Rin, Luvia and you are related ma'am?" Shirou asked Katalina who returned her gaze to him.
"Luvia and her are but not me my dear boy. You see I may have the Edelfelt name but I wasn't born into it, I married into it. My late husband Richard was the brother of Luvia's father, he passed away five years ago."
"Oh my condolences ma'am" Shirou apologized.
Katalina smiled gently at him "that's very kind of you my boy. Now let's continue to round two."
As Luvia was still trying to get the color in her face back to normal, Shirou watched carefully as Katalina performed the second set of reps on the bench press. It remained incredible to him to see her at work. Clearly the Edelfelt family were are more then the sum of their parts.
As the second set was finished Katalina against leaned and sat upwards and this time asked.
"But do tell me my dear boy because I wonder. What did you do that El-Melloi would grant you an education here. It must have been a pretty great endeavor to get such a privilege."
Shirou was uncertain about how to answer that question. His entire encounter with the Four Kings, the machinations of the Argus Manadek and his crusade to kill all the magi in the world was a secret that El-Melloi was very strict about leaving under wraps. He understood why. If the magical community found out that artifacts could be left behind after Servants are summoned, then perhaps copycats or other unsavory types would no doubt go after them.
"I helped him with one of his cases. After which he granted Tohsaka and me an opportunity to study here."
"Still that must have been a hard decision. Leaving all your friends and family behind. Were you close with any of them?" Katalina asked.
Shirou told her about his time in Fuyuki growing up there. His closest friend in Issei Ryuudou, his legal guardian Fujimaru and his sister Illyasviel. It brought up fond memories from home and he got slightly lost in them. So much so that his head tilted and saw the nearby clock and that it was nearing the evening.
"Oh crap!" he shouted before quickly apologizing to the two proper aristocratic ladies near him for cursing "I'm sorry but I need to go. I have dinner plans with Rin."
"No need to apologize my dear boy. It's very good of you not to keep a lady waiting. I hope we meet again soon" Katalina told him as she extended a hand. Shirou shook it respectfully before proceeding to walk away from the two ladies.
As soon as Luvia and her aunt where left alone the former turned to her elder and said.
"Aunt Katalina do you really have to embarrass me like that?"
Katalina giggled in response "oh you know me by now Luviagelita, I don't intend for him to do so. Besides what else am I supposed to think when I see my favorite niece talking to a boy. I need to make he is a good one."
Luvia crossed her arms "he is better then good auntie. He is absolutely incredible…and yet Rin Tohsaka somehow got her clutches into him" she said disappointedly.
Katalina stood up and placed her hand on Luvia's shoulder.
"Don't feel so sorry for yourself dear niece. You never know in what direction fate swings and love comes in unexpected ways. That's how me and your uncle met. So chin up and keep fighting, you're an Edelfelt for goodness sake."
The encouraging words of her aunt made Luvia smile and she leaned over and hugged her "thanks auntie Katalina you're the best."
Katalina warmly returned the embrace and after that Luvia turned around and began to leave the gym with her aunt waving her off. As soon as she was out of sight Katalina's hand flew down to the hip pack around her waist. In it she fished out her flip phone and opened it, punching in a number and putting the phone to her ear.
"Yes?" a male voice said on the other end.
"I have a name for you. Issei Ryuudou. Do with it as you see fit" she said somewhat ominously to the person on the other end.