[Labyrinth City Orario, Emiya Residence]
The night was calm, and the lights inside the house were bright.
"Onii-chan, help me update my status," Emiya Miyu sat on the edge of the bed, her light-golden eyes gazing up at her brother as she spoke softly.
"Sure," Emiya nodded and walked over, sitting down behind her.
At this moment, Emiya was technically traveling the world together with Riveria and the others, but with the authority of the Imaginary Sea, he could freely move between places. Returning to Orario was no more than a blink of an eye for him.
Miyu loosened her clothes. Her smooth black hair slid down her shoulders, revealing skin that was pale and flawless. Her back looked like polished jade. White to the point of translucence, and under the glow of the lamp, it shimmered with a soft, lustrous sheen.
Emiya projected a short dagger. A flash of silver, and the tip of his finger was pricked. A single drop of crimson god-blood slowly welled out.
Then, he raised his finger and began to trace upon Miyu's flawless bare back, drawing slowly and deliberately.
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[Emiya Miyu]
Lv.2
Strength: SS1070
Endurance: SS1002
Dexterity: SS1125
Agility: SSS1346
Magic: SSS1598
—:Development Ability:—
[Fate] I
—:Magic:—
[Stellar Magic: A magic that controls the power of starlight. Its methods of use include "Artillery (High-Power Attack)," "Sniping (Ultra-Long Range Attack)," "Rapid Fire (High-Speed Consecutive Attack)," "Radiance (Wide-Area Attack)," "Slash (Special Attack)," "Holy Shield (Defensive Barrier)," "Heaven Step (Sky-Walking)," "Star Heal (Miraculous Healing)"... and many other possible applications.
[Fantasy Summon: Connects to the Throne of Heroes. Can selectively manifest to summon a Heroic Spirit's Noble Phantasm, or temporarily call forth a Heroic Spirit's core, overlaying their power upon oneself to become that Heroic Spirit.]
Heroic Spirit Records:
Saber — Artoria Avalon
Archer — Gilgamesh
Lancer — Achilles
Rider — Iskandar
Caster — Solomon
Assassin — King Hassan
Berserker — Gorgon
Ruler — Morgan le Fay
—:Skills:—
[Second Magic—Gem Star], [Divine Child], [Savior]
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Miyu was the first member of Emiya Shirou's Familia, and also its captain.
It had only been a month since she officially set out on her path as an adventurer.
Yet in that short span, the speed of her growth had already far surpassed both Emiya and Bell.
After confirming the girl's updated status, Emiya gave a small nod and performed the ritual for her Level Up.
Miyu's level rose to Lv.3, and she obtained a new Development Ability: [Miracle].
———
In a shop neatly lined with all sorts of weapons and armor, a small Pallum woman in business attire was flipping through a ledger.
A girl approached her and spoke, "Miss Lili."
"Ah, Miyu, long time no see," The Pallum woman looked up and smiled faintly.
Liliruca Arde, Pallum, Lv.2, Hephaestus Familia's financial manager. Title: [Golden Queen].
She wore a perfectly tailored black business suit. The pencil skirt subtly traced the lines of her figure, elegant but not flashy. Black stockings ran smoothly down her slender legs, ending in a pair of refined heels.
A pair of half-rim glasses without prescription rested on her nose, adding an air of intelligence and professionalism.
Though she was only 110cm tall, a typical Pallum physique, and her level was merely Lv.2, one she had barely reached after being carried through countless expeditions by high-level adventurers, her presence was astonishingly strong.
That calm confidence, that composed and capable aura, even when standing before humans, beastmen, or high elves, she never seemed small.
And those adventurers many times stronger than her would unconsciously lower their tone in her presence, afraid that her sharp gaze might see through them.
However, when facing Miyu, Lili's attitude was much gentler.
After greeting each other, Miyu explained the reason for her visit.
Her level had just risen to Lv.3, which meant she could now start using second-tier armaments. So, she came to the Hephaestus Familia's official store to pick out new weapons and armor.
As for why she came to buy equipment instead of having Emiya make it for her, the reason was simple.
Because at present, Emiya couldn't make something that weak.
Unlike the goddess Hephaestus, whose divine control had reached perfection, Emiya hadn't been a god for long, his mastery over divine power still needed refinement.
Right now, no matter how hard he tried, anything he personally forged would inevitably end up being ridiculously overpowered divine armaments.
Therefore, Miyu had no choice but to come here and choose gear better suited for everyday adventuring.
Although her brother had already made her a complete set of top-grade divine equipment, and though she could, if she wished, open the [Gate of Babylon] and draw Noble Phantasms from it, such out-of-scale artifacts were obviously unsuitable for routine exploration and combat.
After hearing Miyu's intentions, Lili personally helped her pick out a new set of equipment. Every aspect, material, weight, performance, was carefully selected to perfectly match Miyu's fighting style.
As for the cost, naturally, she didn't charge a single coin.
Even though Emiya Shirou had founded his own Familia, he had never withdrawn from the Hephaestus Familia and still retained full membership.
With his status and contributions there, forget a single set of gear, even if Miyu asked for an entire armory, no one would question it.
———
Elsewhere, after finishing Miyu's status update, Emiya had originally planned to immediately shift back to Riveria and the others to continue traveling with them.
However, at that moment, an unexpected letter arrived at his home.
The letter came from Loki Familia's adventurer [Angry Serpent] Tione Hiryute. In it, she explained that she was about to undergo a Level Up.
Tione wished to complete her ascension ceremony at the Ishtar Familia's temple and requested that Emiya perform the "Rite of Ascension" for the Amazon race.
"So, Tione's leveling up too, huh," Emiya murmured, a little nostalgic. Though he found it perfectly reasonable.
Given Tione's talent and strength, breaking through Lv.7 was only a matter of time. It wasn't exactly surprising news.
As for why Loki Familia's Tione had chosen the Ishtar Familia's temple as her place of ascension, that wasn't hard to understand either.
After all, at present, that temple had practically become a holy site for the Amazons.
Emiya thought for a moment, 'Tione's level-up ceremony, huh... well then, let's pay a visit to the Ishtar Familia's temple first.'
In the Labyrinth City today, countless stories continued to unfold.