Having finally clarified her future path and form of existence, and having resolved to live as Tohsaka Rin, the name Lin Lin lost its meaning. From this point forward, her name was officially changed to Rin.
Rin, who had decided to be a good older sister who would protect her younger sister, immediately faced her first formidable challenge.
"Rin, Mama still has things to do. I'm entrusting Xiao Ying to you. Take her and play nicely."
Just as she had arrived without a trace, she left just as imperceptibly. By the time Rin reacted, only two lolis were left in the courtyard, staring at each other.
Now Rin was dumbfounded. Playing with a Little Girl who had just turned one, what to play? Mama! This was not taught by the teacher!
What could a Little Girl who had just turned one and couldn't even walk steadily play? Lift her high? That seemed appropriate, but Rin didn't have the prerequisites. Not to mention whether her slender little arms had the strength, but at only 60 centimeters tall, there was no 'high' to lift her to. Swing? Taking her one-year-old sister to play on a swing would definitely earn Rin the label of a 'sister abuser'... "Uh, Sakura, what do you want to play? Big Sister will play with you." Rin racked her brains but couldn't come up with any good ideas, her beautiful hair tangled like a bird's nest from her own pulling. Since she couldn't think of anything, she might as well ask the person involved.
Xiao Ying, however, smiled sweetly, raised a small hand, and said, "A walk."
"A, a walk?"
Yes, that was a good idea. The Tohsaka Family, which advocated classical and retro styles and had a family motto of always maintaining nobility and elegance, probably couldn't even find a single children's toy. At this time, the only thing suitable for Sakura was to breathe the fresh air in the courtyard and stroll on the green lawn.
"Then let's go, Sakura, Big Sister will accompany you." Holding Sakura's tiny hand, Rin held it firmly in hers, leading the slightly unsteady Xiao Ying for a slow walk in the verdant courtyard under the spring breeze.
Holding this tiny hand, Rin's heart was incredibly heavy. Looking at the innocent and naive Xiao Ying at this moment, Rin knew how difficult the future path would be and how powerless she was. Not to mention anything far off, five years later, Xiao Ying would be adopted by the Matou Family, and then, her life of tragedy would begin... No, I must quickly get in touch with the Tohsaka Family's Magecraft, quickly master the power of this world. No matter what method I use, I must change it. Xiao Ying absolutely cannot be adopted by the Matou Family, even if it means me going instead!
Perhaps Rin didn't realize that she wasn't simply stuffed into the body of the young Tohsaka Rin; unknowingly, she had also been integrated with the factors of being Tohsaka Rin. That's why she developed such a strong protective desire for Tohsaka Sakura, whom she had only seen on a screen in her previous life and only met for the first time in person—a strong emotion to protect her even at the cost of her own sacrifice.
The Kohaku and Hisui sisters who would be sent to the Tohno Family within five years, Asagami Fujino who was secretly harmed by her stepfather since childhood, the Nanaya Clan that would be annihilated five years later, and Illya in the Einzbern family castle in Germany... There were too many people who needed saving, who she wanted to save, and time was too short. And she was still just a two-year-old child; whether she could even begin Magecraft training was an unknown... "Sister, I'm tired." At this moment, Xiao Ying shook Rin's arm, pulling her back from her thoughts. After all, she was a child; she got tired after walking a few steps. Rin could only smile and lead Sakura to sit on the lawn to sunbathe together.
Xiao Ying leaned against Rin, smiling, and called out, "Sister, tell a story."
"Tell, tell a story!" There was no other way. Children, in an era where mobile phones and tablets were not yet widespread, aside from making mischief in piles of toys or going for a stroll, what else was there but storytelling?
Speaking of which, Rin's current body was still at the age for listening to stories. Logically, as Rin, with an adult soul and memories, telling a story should be a piece of cake. Unfortunately, Rin's previous life was in an era of electronic information explosion, and she had never actually heard children's stories.
Stared at by Xiao Ying's teary, big eyes, Rin had no choice but to ponder for a moment before suddenly thinking, "Sakura, how about Big Sister tells you a story about a wolf and a sheep?"
"Eh, but Mama seems to have told that story already."
"Don't worry, Mama's story and Big Sister's story are different, okay? Big Sister will start now. In a very, very far away place, there was a place called Green Grassland, and a flock of sheep lived there..."
And so, a certain 'Pleasant Goat' that had poisoned a generation in China was brought out by Rin decades early to coax her younger sister. Although it felt a bit embarrassing, she didn't have to worry about anyone suing her for infringement, so what was there to fear? In this way, the entire morning passed with Rin's storytelling and Sakura's laughter.
As noon approached, Tohsaka Aoi's voice came: "Rin, Sakura, you two, come back." From a distance, Aoi could be seen walking towards them with someone. When they got closer, Rin's expression instantly became complicated.
His tall and firm figure, dressed in a simple yet luxurious red suit, holding a ruby staff in his right hand, with a meticulously trimmed short beard on his chin. Whether it was his walking pace or every gesture, he exuded an aura of classical, self-disciplined elegance. Aoi beside him seemed like the perfect foil.
This person was the beginning of Sakura's tragic life, the fifth-generation head of the contemporary Tohsaka Family, the administrator of Fuyuki's ley lines, Tohsaka Tokiomi.
It was difficult for Rin to give an accurate assessment of Tohsaka Tokiomi. As the fifth-generation head of the Tohsaka Family, one of the "Three Founding Families," although his talent was not outstanding, he became an excellent Magician through hard work. His pure Magecraft skill was second only to Kayneth, known as a child prodigy, among the Masters of the Fourth Holy Grail War. He was a rare orthodox Magician, and the only Master in the Fourth Holy Grail War who desired to reach the "Root" through the Holy Grail.
Due to his noble birth and early experiences, he had an arrogant and extremely confident personality, a "man of both pride and backbone." According to the original story (yuanzhu), "Tohsaka Tokiomi spent half his life in hardship, silently licking his wounds along the way, transforming all his bitterness into self-esteem."
It can be said that Tohsaka Tokiomi was the most orthodox Magician in the Type-Moon World; his way of thinking and acting was impeccably perfect for a Magician.
He didn't possess extraordinary talent but achieved a prominent position in the magic world through his own efforts, revitalizing the Tohsaka Family's magic under his hand; as a Magician, he was undoubtedly qualified.
However, no matter what, he was the root of Xiao Ying (Little Sakura)'s tragic life; regardless of his reasons, she was handed over to the Matou Family by him, and a magical agreement was signed, stating that Xiao Ying (Little Sakura) could never again step into the Tohsaka Family.
Transferring Xiao Ying (Little Sakura) to the Matou Family was indeed because a child of magic needed the protection of a family's Magic Crest, otherwise, they would inevitably be suffocated by fate; the Tohsaka Family's Crest could only protect one, and the other, if they didn't want to be suffocated, could only be discarded, spending their life unrelated to the mystical side.
Transferring Xiao Ying (Little Sakura) to the Matou Family was to avoid wasting Xiao Ying (Little Sakura)'s rare magical talent, using the Matou Family's Magic Crest to protect her.
However, this cannot absolve Tokiomi, because his purpose in transferring Xiao Ying (Little Sakura) to the Matou Family was not simply for her to safely enter the realm of magic, but rather a contingency plan for a future Holy Grail War.
It was so that if he failed, the next Holy Grail War would have two Masters flowing with Tohsaka blood participating; no matter who won in the end, it would be a victory for the Tohsaka Family.
Therefore, Tokiomi was a Magician who had twisted his humanity; in his eyes, the Tohsaka Family's magic and the pursuit of the origin were above all else.
In the face of these two goals, nothing was too great a sacrifice.
So, facing this person she should call 'father,' Tohsaka Rin's heart was a mix of emotions at this moment: save him? Not save him? Or let nature take its course?
"Tokiomi, will you ever stop making mistakes..."