Fuyuki
"...So how's your studies, Sakura?" Shirou asked as the two of them walked together to school.
Upon his question, the purple haired girl perked up and gave him a teasing smile.
"Well, I'm doing great actually. Medea-chan's advice and lessons are a godsend for me. But Senpai, you really shouldn't push yourself too hard yet." She said with a hint of teasing, a rare and downright bold move from the typically shy girl. The one to blame for such a development of personality is Medea herself, threatening Sakura's position like that..
"Hahaha, I'm sorry." Shirou apologizes for the fifth or sixth time this morning alone. He can't help it. Years of no slow progress and lack of results have made him impatient in Magecraft. At the moment he learned what's wrong with his craft, he was very much keen on seeing the new results and avenues now open for him.
Previously, he was taught by Kiritsugu to use his own nerves as magic circuits, converting the sensitive nerves into magic circuits through brute force. A crippling method by Medea's words. Upon learning it, Shirou can't help but curse the old man a little for teaching him such a method. After that, it was a simple matter of Medea opening his circuits and teaching him and Sakura in their respective elements and origins.
His are a rare dual origin, a reincarnation.
Element sword, Origin Sword. A very rare combination.
One would think that this kind of specialty would limit his craft to swords only, they're dead wrong. Medea, showing her intelligence and knowledge, has advised him to see a sword as a tool and a tool as a sword. A very direct self hypnosis mantra.
Magecraft is his tool and as such, is his sword.
By tricking himself, this allowed him to cast far more elaborate thamaturgy beyond swords such as rituals and bounded fields. Still, his main craft is Tracing. A version of Gradiation Air that he developed on his own, something Medea pushed him to develop further.
At the moment, he can successfully create crude gems with tracing, useful in experiments.
As for Sakura's craft? He doesn't know out of respect. A Magus craft is something one shares freely. Even he himself follows such a rule. One's magecraft is the culmination of effort and hard work spent, to know such intimate knowledge to one another's craft is a testament to one's trust or relationship.
Not like they don't trust each other but it's a matter of privacy between them.
"What about Shinji? Is he fine since his injury?" Shirou asks, trying to subtly change the topic. Sakura giggles at the weak attempt but decides to give him some slack today.
"He is fine. Still resting today but he still won't be able to come to school." Sakura said.
"Oh, that's a shame then. Mitsuzuri-san's being pestering me because of Shinji's absence." Shirou sighs. At the memory the said girl pulled and ordered him like he was still part of the Archery club still fresh in mind. Not like he hates the request but rather it does take some of his time studying his magecraft.
Meanwhile, Sakura's thoughts are far darker at the mention of the other girl. Not only does she have to contest her at home against Medea but also against the older girl too. Not to mention, Ayako Mitsuzuri has the advantage of knowing Shirou early and being at the same year level.
So many fronts to fight.
Normally, Sakura would never think such things. But with the arrival of Medea, who she has seen as a sister/teacher figure since then, Sakura has developed a selfish personality. She didn't like how Shirou gravitated around Medea, soaking in all the knowledge and teachings the pink servant gave freely to him. It doesn't help that her own knowledge in Magecraft is limited to what she can only do. Her grandfather never truly thought of her except for using her body in his magecraft. She has nothing to give to Shirou and he is far enamored of the moonlit world now he has access to it.
As such she joined him in Medea's lessons.
Not only did she learn but she gets to be with her Senpai, sharing the moment and learning together was a novel experience despite Medea's presence nor interference at times. This also meant their relationship got more closer as not just senpai and junior into a far more.
Then there's Ayako. She can't make a move nor defend whenever the strong-headed senior pulls Shirou along with her. All she can do is try to lessen the damage and interfere when she can.
How strange? For her to change in such a short amount of time upon Medea's arrival. Not like Sakura hated it, but it was a huge contrast to what she was before.
A husk of a girl living through an illusion of happiness.
But at the moment? She's now seeking out such happiness, trying to grasp and keep it to herself.
How selfish of her.
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Matou Manor
Zouken, an old ancient Magus and one of the pillars of the Heavens Feel Ritual, calmly walks in the hallways of his manor. The old man looked sickly and decrepit, as if a walking corpse if not for the fact he is still breathing or the fact he is oozing with malice.
The old man is seething in rage. He has been in this state since the moment his dear granddaughter summoned the Rider Servant. A mistake he made in calculation, thinking he can control the servant through his granddaughter or that failure of a grandson. What he got instead is a shrewd and mischievous servant who has him in a death grip the moment it found out his true nature.
To think her Noble Phantasm would be so troublesome for the likes of him.
As he passed by the stairs, his feet caught on a thin strip wire, invisible to the naked eye under the right lighting, and tripped towards the steps. The loud yelp of surprise that escaped his lips was immediately replaced by the sound of bones snapping as he tumbled down to the ground floor.
By the time he landed, the old man's body was broken and filled with bruises. To some, it would be the end and death but for him? It was nothing but a setback and humiliation.
"KONGMING!!!"
Zouken choked on blood as he screamed bloody murder, his body regenerating, the worms that made up his body moving to reassemble the ruined shell. He didn't care how he looked or how unsightly it was, he just wanted to vent his anger to the blasted servant!
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Matou Manor, Backyard.
Shinji winced at the roar of anger coming from the old man, echoing in the manor all the way outside of the estate. The old man probably fell into another trap.
For the fifteenth time based on his last count.
"That should take care of our little voyeur." A soft voice spoke behind him, revealing to be the servant summoned by the Matou, Rider.
She is a woman with long, flowing lavender hair and sharp, intelligent amber eyes. She wears an elaborate green and white robe with wide sleeves and a high collar on her delicate neck. The dress itself is Chinese in design and origin. The outfit itself is accented by a tan, fur-lined shawl and intricate gold ornaments that dangle from her waist and hair, creating a regal appearance.
This is Kongming, the infamous Chinese strategist.
"Was that really necessary, Lady Kongming?" Shinji asked respectfully.
On a normal occasion, the only male scion of the Matou family would be drooling over the mature and sexy servant and would be ordering said servant around like a slave to fulfill his own demands and pleasure.
But not this time.
For this time, Shinji Matou for once experienced true freedom, away from the monstrous shadow of his blood, the Matou bloodline and his grandfather's influence.
Ever since he was deemed a failure in continuing the Matou bloodline, having no actual magic circuits in his name, his grandfather has made sure to remind how much of a failure he is. The old monster's ever looming presence suffocated any resistance as he was made into nothing more but a slave to the ancient monster's demand. He had thought about running away like his father did years ago but he doubted it would work. Shinji even suspects that his father didn't live after his escape as he has heard no news nor any evidence of the man's survival. Not to mention, the old man has eyes and ears everywhere with all the worms in his command.
The same worms that Kongming burned to a crisp at the slightest hint of their presence.
It was a few days ago when Sakura summoned the woman. A simple headstart against all the participants of the Holy Grail War, a ritual he has no part of yet forced to partake with the risk of his life for a wish.
A very tempting prospect when that implies freedom to the monster that is Zouken.
Yet Kongming proved Shinji wrong that day. The moment the woman laid her eyes on the woman, she immediately reduced the old man and his disgusting worms into a mess. Shinji didn't know how or why but the old worm was afraid for the first time.
And that's how Kongming took custody of both him and Sakura, citing as long as the duration of the war or her existence, both children will be safe under her protection and that old worm cannot touch either.
Something the old worm didn't like but cannot argue against someone who held the right cards.
Thus he tasted freedom and right there and then, he fully pledged himself to the servant till the end of the war as her proxy master. Sakura is still the true master but the girl didn't have the heart to partake in the bloody ritual, something Kongming agreed to.
As such here he is, training as her only human soldier.
"Of course, that little worm cannot be trusted." Kongming said, fanning herself with a fan. "I have experienced his ilk before. Bitter and filled with ambitions. To them, people are nothing more than tools to be discarded. In you and your adopted sister's case, disposable meat."
Shinji can't help but wince at the analogy, remembering the worm pit and Sakura's training. It was accurate to say.
"But enough of that." Kongming closed her fan. "You have been training for the past few days under my Noble Phantasm's effects."
"Time to test that." The fan opened again, prana coursing through the unassuming item.
Shinji already knew the signal and stood alert. His bow, a testament of his dedication and skills in archery, is drawn towards the trees. There's no target in sight yet he knows it is coming.
And they did.
From the undergrowth of said trees, a snake-like figure slithered through the foliage. An arrow whistled and missed the figure by inches. Shinji clicked his tongue but didn't panic, he still had space. Drawing three arrows together, he knocked one and let it fly. The unknown target is already slithering on a tree branch yet his mark misses again, the target's body bending to dodge the shot. Another shot was taken and another miss, the target now began to work its way to him. With one arrow left, Shinji calmly breathed. His focus on the target, visualizing what he needed.
The arrow is already on its target, so it must be knocked, drawn and fired.
Shinji released his final shot.
A burst of fire burnt the arrow to ashes before it even hit.
"Splendid!" Kongming clapped behind him. "You forced Fukuryu to use his fire." She said as she crouched, letting the snake-like creature slither and wrap around her arm.
A small Chinese Dragon.
Fukuryu is the name of the creature. A mythical creature, a proof of fantasy and magic. A creature made of magic, breathes magic and oozes with magic. The sight of the creature alone would make anyone look in awe at the serpentine creature.
"I still didn't stop him." Shinji sighs, disappointed at his performance despite the encouragement. It took him plenty of tries in getting a bead on the small dragon, by the time it matters, it's already too late.
Kongming rolled her eyes at the boy's words. It's akin to a little bird disappointed that they can't fly yet.
"It's not a matter of defeating your opponents, boy. It's slowing them down or disrupting them." She explains. "A servant is not an opponent you can simply defeat by what I taught you. To defeat one alone entails years upon years of dedicated training and development. Something we both lacked at the moment."
"I know." Shinji grumbled yet not convinced. "Think I can go toe-to-toe with a Magus with this?"
"More so if they underestimate you. Remember, your lack of circuits may be a disability but it can be your strength, you just have to know when to strike with it." Kongming advices him.
Shinji nods along yet still not convinced. For the past few days, Kongming has been training him in preparation for the Holy Grail War under the effects of her Noble Phantasm, Divine Grant, an A rank Noble Phantasm that functions as a Stat boost for anyone, raising their capabilities beyond normal. The Noble Phantasm is ineffective to Kongming, as it can't be used on herself. Instead, it's used on a friendly, mainly her Dragon Fukuryu. But when used on a human, this grants the target a huge boost, giving them the same strength of a low level servant.
Yet it's clearly not enough to take one down.
Shinji held his bow tightly as he promised himself.
He will attain his freedom.
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