Inside the Emiya residence, Rin Tohsaka was explaining Servants, Command Spells, and the Holy Grail War to Shirou Emiya, while Artoria cornered Morpheus.
"You're not planning to fight me here, are you?" Morpheus said with a smile, gesturing toward Shirou. "If this place gets wrecked, it'll be tough for him."
Artoria ignored him, cutting to the chase. "What exactly do you know?"
"What do you think I know?" Morpheus replied, grinning.
Her expression shifted slightly. "If you can't say anything specific, I'll assume it's a trick. Your words could apply to most Servants.
"Such a ploy won't stop me from acting. This is the Holy Grail War... we'll inevitably clash. Once Shirou understands what's at stake, I'm sure he'll choose to defeat you!"
"Is that so? If you say so," Morpheus said, strolling into the house. He plopped down, picked up a teacup, and took a sip. "Nice tea, Shirou. Want to swap tea-brewing tips?"
"Uh… if you'd like…" Shirou replied, a bit embarrassed.
Rin glared at Morpheus. "I'm explaining the Holy Grail War here! Don't interrupt!"
"Yes, yes, Lady Tohsaka," Morpheus teased, scanning the room. His eyes locked onto something by Shirou's TV. He walked over, expertly turned on the television and a black console, and as the gaming company's logo appeared, he eagerly rummaged through the games.
"Servants are heroes from human history summoned to the present and commanded," Rin continued. "Your Servant, Saber, is likely some knight from European history."
She glanced at Morpheus, now gleefully playing a game, showing no trace of ancient origins, and sighed. "Though there are exceptions. As I've learned, it's not just the past... Servants from other timelines can appear."
"Other timelines? So, future people could show up?" Shirou asked, surprised.
"I'm not sure," Rin admitted honestly.
"They can," Morpheus interjected. "Future individuals can appear. Heroic Spirits exist outside the timeline as independent entities. It's possible for your past self to summon your future self as a Heroic Spirit."
Morpheus, still playing, deftly handled the game while answering the two magi's questions.
Shirou exclaimed, "You can really summon future Servants?!"
"Of course, since they're outside the timeline," Morpheus said, maneuvering his character on-screen. Beside him, Artoria watched, noting his skill, like a gamer who'd spent years glued to a screen.
"But wait," Shirou said. "Didn't you say Heroic Spirits ascend due to great deeds? If a future self returns and kills their past self, the foundation for their legend vanishes. Can they still exist?"
"They can," Morpheus replied simply. "But it'd cause a glitch. Existing independently outside the timeline, killing your past self cuts your legend short. Without a legend, the Heroic Spirit's power plummets."
Using a 0.2-second invincibility frame to dodge a boss's attack, Morpheus slashed the boss's weak point with his character's katana.
With a precise strike, the boss staggered, stunned.
While pursuing, Morpheus continued, "In other words, a powerful Heroic Spirit becomes a useless one, lying around. That's the change."
He paused, a new thought striking him.
"What I said holds, but if Heroic Spirits exist outside the timeline, what about pruned worlds? Do those worlds' Heroic Spirits still exist?
"Normally, time, space, the Throne of Heroes, and even the Counter Force are contained within a world. If a world is pruned, they should vanish too. But maybe not... perhaps we'd need to delve into the Root to know…"
As Morpheus mused, Rin and Shirou absorbed his explanations, grasping concepts they hadn't known.
Rin looked at Artoria. "Saber, is something off with your condition?"
"Yes, due to Shirou's inexperience, I'm in an incomplete state," Artoria admitted.
Shirou blinked, startled. "What does that mean?!"
"It means your lack of magical skill leaves your Servant in an incomplete state," Rin explained. "Servants rely on their Master's mana to function."
She glanced at Artoria. "If the Master can't fully supply mana, the Servant must find other ways to replenish it."
Morpheus, still gaming, chimed in. "Like killing people and extracting mana from their life force. Mana equals life force, so taking others' lives works."
"I'd never do that!" Shirou shouted, triggered by Morpheus's words. "And what's the point of this Holy Grail War? Killing each other for a wish, dragging in innocent people?!"
His outburst stunned Rin. Even Artoria glanced at him. Realizing his overreaction, Shirou calmed down, muttering, "Sorry."
He reiterated firmly, "I'd never do that!"
"No worries. There are other ways," Morpheus said, finishing the game boss and entering the reward screen. "Feeding a Servant food provides mana, or sacrificing animals... birds or beasts... works too."
Offering suggestions, he added, "If you really hate fighting, I suggest talking to the Church. Convince the overseer to remove your Command Spells and withdraw. You'd lose your Master status and stay protected at the Church until the War ends."
Rin glanced at Morpheus, surprised by his knowledge of the War. Remembering he nearly studied at the Clock Tower, she understood why.
But why did it feel like Morpheus was deliberately pushing Shirou to withdraw at the Church?
Noticing Saber's darkening expression, was it to eliminate her, the strongest Servant?
Saber's withdrawal would drastically alter the War's course.
Rin pondered silently as Shirou stood. "I want to go ask the Church."
Unsure of Morpheus's motives, Rin stood too. "I'll take you there."
She added, "I'm your enemy, so don't just take my word. The Church is a neutral third party... you can hear their perspective."
Morpheus smirked inwardly.
"If I didn't know Kirei Kotomine was your caretaker, I'd almost believe that."
…
Under the night sky, the trio walked the streets, Morpheus in spirit form. They reached the church, but Artoria stopped at the entrance, refusing to go further.
Though curious, Shirou let her stay. Morpheus paused, chuckling. "Scared the priest will see you?"
"Archer, are you provoking me?" Artoria retorted.
"Not at all. Just curious what you did in the past to avoid this priest," Morpheus said, stepping into the church's grounds.
Using his mystic eyes, he scanned the area. He saw the priest inside, Rin and Shirou approaching him.
And below the church, countless faint figures!
Living people, unable to move or even end their own lives!
Their life force was dim, as if death were their only release, yet they couldn't die!
Beyond them, two vibrant life forces glowed, surpassing human limits.
Clearly, Servants hiding below!
One lingered from the Fourth Holy Grail War via the Grail's power. The other was the Servant Kirei stole from his sister... none other than Cú Chulainn, whom Morpheus had fought!
***
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