Matou Manor.
Standing in his underground chamber, the true head of the family—Mato Zoken, once in the distant past called Makiri Zolgen—watched with his sunken lifeless eyes the "training" he'd personally prepared for his adopted daughter.
How perfect she is. A young girl's soul full of untapped potential... Ha-ah... Far better than my own worthless offspring incapable of producing worthy heirs. It's almost a pity her fate is that of a mere sacrifice... The old man mused to himself, not blinking as he stared at the bottom of the underground chamber where his young "student" was "training."
There, below, buried among a horde of disgusting worm familiars, lay a young woman motionless with a completely emotionless gaze fixed strictly upward. By her expression, one might think she'd lost connection to the world, no longer feeling her body, but that wasn't the case at all...
She felt EVERYTHING. Every disgusting touch. Heard every repulsive sound of their rubbing chitin. Felt every ounce of pain they caused, pain that would make any other person scream until their vocal cords tore, leading to unconsciousness and eventual madness...
But for this girl, such a horrific ordeal had long become inevitable "routine." A daily "activity" she simply had no strength or means to avoid...
After all, what could a weak, unhardened girl oppose to the century-old monster tormenting her?
At that thought, a toothless predatory smile appeared on the Old Man's face, a sight that could easily induce a heart attack in the weak-hearted...
Sakura was one of his best acquisitions in the past century. Unfortunately, his descendants no longer held value, lacking the ability to fully master the family "art." This greatly disappointed the old magus, but nothing could be done, as even introducing new blood wouldn't fix it. The head of the Matou knew perfectly the reasons for his family's degeneration of magical abilities.
Their magic had consequences. Like any other. Only for the Matou, they learned of them far too late to fix.
Thus, Tokiomi Tohsaka's youngest daughter became a true blessing, capable, with proper guidance, of granting the old Matou the immortality he craved, replacing his current pathetic existence in the next Holy Grail War. He'd even thank his dead colleague for such a "gift," but the old Worm strongly doubted he'd approve of the "training" his own daughter endured.
And that thought brought another ghastly sadistic smile to the old man's face. Only the ceaseless pain from his constantly decaying body and thoughts of his worthless grandson marred his musings.
Such a pity Shinji's such an idiot, but... I think he can still be used. After all, little Sakura is growing up... Her will is astonishingly strong, but the "urges" will soon escape her control. Then even my good-for-nothing grandson can be useful. Ha-ha-ha...
Even after all this time, the old man was amazed at how strong this young girl was. So much endured pain and horror, yet she retained her sanity against all odds...
Abandoned by her own family, forced to live enduring daily violence against body and mind. Forgotten by her birth and only sister, forced to watch her live oblivious to a tenth of her own pain. Ha-ha-ha... I doubt there's anyone in all Fuyuki who could endure such and survive, let alone stay sane...
That said, even the strongest heart has room for sentimental weaknesses...
Young Emiya. Son of the famed Magus Killer... Wonder how he'll react to what's happening to his dear friend? Or how She'll react? Yes... Can't wait to see their faces...
And again, an ugly smile barely noticeable appeared on the wrinkled old man's face, revealing previously absent inhuman fangs...
Satisfied with what he'd seen, Zoken nodded to himself, turned, and slowly ascended the massive staircase to his private study.
But soon, passing through the living room, the old man abruptly stopped.
"You?" The dark voids of the old "Worm's" eyes widened in surprise for a moment but quickly narrowed dangerously as his previously good mood spiked into the "red zone." "Didn't expect guests so soon. What are you doing here, Dormo?"
On the other side of the living room, at the table, sat an uninvited guest, and to the house owner's irritation, he was casually sipping coffee, showing no reaction whatsoever to the Old Man's threatening tone or the gradually intensifying sounds of scuttling insects coming from all directions. Only after taking a deep gulp from his cup did the man called Dormo finally raise his gaze...
"Zoken! You old rogue, I hope you don't mind that I helped myself to your modest supply of beverage... And I must say, you should replace this instant horror with something more palatable. If you keep serving 'this' to your guests, they'll stop visiting altogether." The "guest" said casually, even somewhat indignantly, shaking the cup of coffee held in his right hand with a feigned displeased expression on his face.
The guest was a man dressed in a neat, expensive-looking black business suit over a white shirt, with a light gray scarf wrapped around his neck. At a glance, the man's age barely exceeded forty, but his fully gray short hair added years to him. Despite this, the man's face showed almost no age-related wrinkles, and the look in his lively blue eyes irritated the head of the house even more, as if saying he could do whatever he wanted, and no one would stop him...
"What are you doing here?.." The old "Worm" hissed angrily at his "acquaintance" while trying to figure out how the intruder had entered HIS house without being noticed!..
"Oh, do I need a reason to check on my friend? And what's with that look, as if you don't trust me... I'm Offended!.. Ha-ha-ha..." Clearly enjoying the situation, the man known as Dormo burst into laughter, irritating the head of the Matou even more.
"Guests don't cross the threshold of a house without notifying its owner. Only thieves do that... So who are you today?.." Zoken replied, unsuccessfully trying to maintain at least outward calm, still glaring at the "guest," who showed no external reaction to the now clearly audible sound of a huge number of insects piercing the house walls...
"Well then, as I said earlier, today I'm just a guest. And I humbly apologize for entering without invitation. My business required urgency, so I didn't waste time and just came inside." Dormo said calmly, shrugging as if to say: "I had no choice," then finished his coffee and placed the cup back on the saucer.
"...And what business do you have with me?.." Zoken said more calmly, gathering more worms around them and activating the bounded field deployed on his land at full power, preparing for a possible clash.
"Straight to business, then?" The guest smirked, but his smile quickly faded... "Well, in that case, I won't tire you with my presence any longer and get to the point. I came here to fulfill my promise for the service you rendered me in the past..." Dormo said with an unnaturally calm expression, causing Zoken to freeze for a few seconds.
"A service?.. Ah, I must be getting old if I forgot about it..." Zoken nodded and briefly looked away, then back at his guest without the previous irritation. "So, you think I'm in danger?" The elder Matou asked, slightly surprised.
"Yes, I don't know exactly from what, or when, but you'll die soon." Dormo announced his interlocutor's death in such a casual tone, as if they were talking about the weather.
"...It's been over sixty years since I took that promise from you... I'd even forgotten about it. I thought you'd never remember our little deal." Zoken said, slightly relaxing, not at all frightened by the "impending" death.
"As you see, I didn't forget. Besides, one should keep promises. It reflects well on one's image." The "guest" said just as calmly.
"Image? Why does a 'dead man' need that?" Zoken said with a slight smirk.
"For the others... magi, I'm a dead man, but that doesn't change our memories. I don't want to face myself as a liar." Dormo shrugged and, sighing lightly, continued:
"As much as I'd like to stay a bit longer, but..." Dormo slowly scanned the surroundings. "...I think I'm not very welcome here..."
The "guest" reached his right hand behind the chair's back and grasped the golden handle of his black cane, hidden by his figure.
"I've fulfilled my obligation to you, and now nothing binds us... So, I must take my leave. Abusing the time of such a... 'patient' host is poor form."
Standing to full height, Dormo placed both hands on his cane and, slightly lifting it, brought it down to the wooden floor. For a second, Zoken considered stopping the "guest" from "taking his leave," but found... nothing. Where Dormo had vanished, not even a trace of his presence remained. He simply disappeared, as if everything seen before was merely the product of the old magus's overactive imagination. This didn't greatly surprise Zoken, though it did cause some irritation.
Well, I didn't expect him to still be alive... Though it's hard to imagine him as dead, but... Not important. I need to prepare. I shouldn't dismiss his words...
The hunched old man continued his previous path to his study, casting a final glance at the dirty cup left on the table.
Still, I agree with him about the lousy coffee... Luckily, I prefer tea. The girl really has many talents, far more than my own grandson... The old "Worm" thought finally before continuing on...
"Avalon." From Shirou's perspective.
On the training grounds of the royal castle, the continuous sounds of clashing steel rang out. Numerous mesmerized eyes of knights, soldiers, and even some curious court servants watched the ongoing battle.
But all of it was completely ignored when my opponent's blade swung dangerously close to my side, forcing me to hastily block the strike with the scabbard and leap aside, using the momentum.
"Shirou!.. If you keep improving at this rate... You'll make fools of the royal knights!" My opponent—Edmund—proclaimed loudly, flashing a pleased smile and trying to catch his breath.
"Don't blame me for... your own lack of training!" After a couple of breaths, my katana—Kirishiro—for the umpteenth time that day instantly left its scabbard, clashing with the royal knight's longsword, producing a characteristic ring and returning us to the dance of steel, where there was no room for hesitation or delay.
Though our fight was just sparring, the force of the blows, the air torn by swings, and the sparks flying in all directions from our clashing blades made it clear even to the most uninitiated spectator that this was no joke.
It all started after my first expedition with the royal knights, to which Sir Edmund had invited me. Everything went as successfully as possible, and afterward, I became a welcome guest in the royal castle, earning plenty of praise and subsequent guidance from the senior warriors. Since then, they periodically invite me along on various missions and similar expeditions or just drop by to check in, often depleting my supplies by raiding the farthest corners of the refrigerator.
No need to mention that they REALLY have a good appetite to empty MY refrigerator...
In any case, I've been coming to the castle quite often since then. Russell even insisted on my training with the royal knights, which I'm more than happy to do. It's an excellent way to gain necessary combat experience fighting humans. Especially since my teacher is still too strong for me to get proper experience.
Hard to fight someone who has a "counter" for every move of mine...
And he's trying not to track all my developments. I've even managed to surprise him a couple of times, but all our "fights" still look like an adult casually playing with a child, and I strongly doubt that'll change anytime soon...
I have a very long way to go before my skills are enough for an even match with Russell. I wouldn't even be surprised if that day never comes... Still, such thoughts won't help me at all. But new weapons... might change something...
For example, my blade has undergone many changes lately. Kirishiro transformed from a blunt training sword into a truly dangerous cold weapon. Even Russell appreciated its properties, calling them... "acceptable," which is the highest praise any of my creations has ever received.
What can I say... Compared to his supersonic spear-staff, whose abilities seem limited only by Russell's twisted imagination, any weapon pales, and only some samples from my personal "armory" hold hope of competing with the "Crystal Rose." And even then, after significant prana overload.
Kirishiro has finally taken the form of a full katana and gained its own scabbard. Its blade is black with a crimson tint along the edge. The katana's hilt is wrapped in dark red fabric, and the guard is rectangular with simple grid engraving. The blade itself seems covered in numerous scales, giving it an extremely unusual and eye-catching appearance. The scabbard is also made of the same black metal and has a ribbed surface near the grip area.
A worthy weapon, the creation of which even filled me with rare pride.
Also lately, I've learned a technique called "Mana Burst," which King Arthur loved to use. Thanks to excellent prana control and its greatly increased quantity, this technique came to me naturally.
To simplify, the technique involves simultaneously reinforcing the entire body or a part of it with more prana than in regular "Reinforcement," and instantly releasing it. This allows momentarily pushing even further beyond limits, at the cost of serious stamina consumption. Through experimentation, I also found that something similar can be done with weapons, producing roughly the same effect.
In short, it's an extremely useful skill. BUT its use is as useful as it is dangerous for the user, especially if they don't know their limits. After all, even with regular "Reinforcement," it's easy to accidentally rupture most blood vessels throughout the body. Let alone something far more "extreme"?
In fact, this technique was the first serious test for the new Kirishiro, when it nearly exploded in my hands... Lucky I decided to test it with it, not something less durable...
Taking the new lessons to heart, I continued researching ways to maximize the prana "burst" effect (without blowing myself up in the process), and after long training, I asked myself:
What happens if I perform Mana Burst while Kirishiro is in the scabbard?..
In my case, Kirishiro would literally shoot out at insane speed like Iaidō, easily breaking my wrist along with my shoulder... At least, that's what would have happened if I hadn't first tested the idea in safe conditions using the hands of a very simple but sturdy golem-doll.
The result? Well... ignoring the damage to the Golem, Kirishiro easily exceeded the speed of even my fastest strike ever, so that same day, the first experiments began to determine optimal limits for this technique.
It took some time, but after a long series of trials and errors, I managed to develop something like a working "Reactive Iaidō" technique. Even the knights of Avalon positively evaluated my new move... But after one of them nearly lost his arm, I try not to use it at full power in training fights, as controlling this technique's force is still hard for me.
"The boy's growing! Isn't he, Farest?" One of the local knights said, watching the developing duel between Shirou and Edmund.
"Indeed. If before the boy was an unmatched archer and decent warrior, now he's also an excellent fencer." The knight named Farest said.
The first knight was a head taller than the second. Even his massive black armor couldn't hide his bulging muscles. Short black hair and bushy sideburns on a face carved from stone, with eyes the color of tree bark, completed the picture of the valiant warrior named Gavis Mjolstorm.
The second, named Farest Miraan, had an average but perfectly defined muscular build. Greenish armor covered all vital areas, with the rest clad in black leather. His face embodied calm, and his somewhat unkempt short wheat-colored hair with light stubble and green eyes wouldn't inspire fear in enemies.
At least, not until he starts cutting them down one by one, as befits the first and most capable knight of the King himself.
The steel continued clashing for a full twenty minutes until we decided to stop. Restrained applause and light smiles greeted the end of the match, and I shook my opponent's extended hand.
"That was truly an excellent duel, Shirou. I'm sure one day you'll defeat me even without using your magic. But even now, I'm certain our king would gladly accept you into the ranks of Avalon's knights alongside us!" For the umpteenth time since we met, Edmund launched into his speech, leaving me to just smile and shake my head. Still, it didn't stop the knights' attempts.
"He's right, Shirou. If you wish, the three of us would gladly recommend you to the king." Gavis chimed in, slamming his paw onto my shoulder with such force that I slightly crouched from the weight...
"I support it, if I can taste your cooking more often... You could even replace the court mage! Ha-ha-ha!.." The First Knight continued, crossing his arms and nodding to his own thoughts.
Did I conquer the "enemy" with food? I don't even know how to react. Though it's not the first time, it still feels strange. As if these people are driven not by their heads, but solely by their stomachs...
"I must decline. I don't think knight work suits me." I replied to the knights, who, as usual, ceased their attempts. Though it won't stop them from bringing it up later...
"What a shame!" Edmund began. "You'd be a great addition to the royal knights..."
"You know I'd make a lousy knight. I simply couldn't act like one..." I replied and looked at my hands.
And I sincerely believed that. After all, a Knight is a warrior of immense skill, following his code of honor. Knightly honor. Unlike them, I'd set traps and use every means available to achieve the goal of saving lives. And even if our values align, I can't bind myself with knightly duty.
After all, if I had to sacrifice honor to save another, I'd do it without hesitation. I simply can't pursue values like "honor" and "pride" when lives are at stake. It would be plainly wrong for me to take on such a title.
"What a shame!" Gavis said loudly, shaking his head. "It doesn't matter much, as long as you come to us with your food... Ahem... and, of course, train with us." The man finished, inadvertently revealing the real reason he wants to see me more often.
Seriously, what's... "so special" about my cooking?..
"Alright, Shirou! If you've rested, allow me to join your training." Farest said and drew two curved sabers from the scabbards at his waist, then took position opposite me on the grounds. Edmund and Gavis wisely stepped aside, and I took a deep breath, placing my right hand on the hilt of the blade resting in its scabbard, awaiting the coming fight.
Mentally, I quickly "scanned" my increased stats.
Shirou Emiya:
Number of magus circuits: 27, quality — (D) (29 units prana/circuit)
Number of inherited magus circuits: 4, quality — (E) (21 units prana/circuit)
Total prana units: 1104
Strength: 199 (D)
Dexterity: 205 (D)
Endurance: 201 (D)
Spirit: 221 (D+)
Huge. Far more than any modern average magus could afford. The fruits of my efforts are already showing clearly, and with each day, I'll only grow stronger.
I'll become even stronger. I won't let that day repeat!
And with that thought, Kirishiro exploded from its scabbard with prana, hurtling toward the opponent...
***
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